4 Canadians have been executed in China on drug-related costs earlier this yr, Canadian authorities have confirmed.
All of them have been twin residents and their identities have been withheld, Canada’s international minister Mélanie Joly mentioned.
A spokesperson for the Chinese language embassy in Canada reportedly urged Ottawa to “cease making irresponsible remarks”, as pundits feared an additional downturn in relations between the nations after years of pressure.
The Chinese language embassy insisted there was “strong and ample” proof for his or her crimes, including that Beijing had “totally assured the rights and pursuits of the Canadian nationals involved” and urged Canada to respect “China’s judicial sovereignty”.
China doesn’t recognise twin citizenship and takes a troublesome stance on drug crimes.
Joly mentioned she had been following the circumstances “very carefully” for months and had tried with different officers, together with former prime minister Justin Trudeau, to cease the executions.
In an announcement to Canadian media, International Affairs Canada spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod mentioned Canada had “repeatedly known as for clemency for these people on the senior-most ranges and stays steadfast in its opposition to the usage of the loss of life penalty in all circumstances, in all places”.
China imposes the loss of life penalty on severe crimes together with these associated to medication, corruption and espionage. Whereas the variety of executions are stored secret, human rights teams consider China has one of many highest execution charges on the planet.
Nevertheless, it is uncommon for the loss of life penalty to be carried out on foreigners.
The executions revealed this week have sparked criticisms from campaigners.
“These stunning and inhumane executions of Canadian residents by Chinese language authorities needs to be a wake-up name for Canada,” mentioned Ketty Nivyabandi from Amnesty Worldwide Canada. “We’re devastated for the households of the victims, and we maintain them in our hearts as they attempt to course of the unimaginable.”
“Our ideas additionally go to the family members of Canadian residents whom China is holding on loss of life row or whose whereabouts within the Chinese language jail system are unknown.”
In 2019, Canadian nationwide Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was sentenced to loss of life in China for drug smuggling – in a high-profile case that drew condemnation from Canadian authorities. He was not among the many Canadians that have been executed.
“We’ll proceed to not solely strongly condemn but additionally ask for leniency for different Canadians which might be going through comparable conditions,” Joly mentioned on Wednesday.
Relations between Canada and China have been icy since 2018 after Canada detained a Chinese language telecom govt, Meng Wanzhou, on a US extradition request. China arrested two Canadians shortly afterwards – although all of them have now been launched.
Earlier this yr, Canadian media launched studies, many primarily based on leaked intelligence, about detailed claims of Chinese language meddling within the nation’s final two federal elections. China has condemned the studies, calling them “baseless and defamatory”.
Extra not too long ago, China imposed retaliatory tariffs on some Canadian farm and meals imports in retaliation for Ottawa’s levies on Chinese language electrical autos, metal and aluminium.
