Renowned academic and former UN special rapporteur, Richard Falk, revealed that he and his wife were detained by customs officers at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport while en route to a conference addressing human rights violations against Palestinians. Falk, a retired Princeton University professor and former special rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights focusing on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, was heading to Ottawa for the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility.
The event, labeled a “people’s tribunal,” aimed to scrutinize Canada’s involvement in the genocide and displacement of Palestinians, particularly in Gaza over the past two years. Upon their arrival at the airport, customs officials confiscated their passports and escorted them to an interview room, stating they needed to assess if the couple posed a national security threat.
Falk, who coincidentally celebrated his 95th birthday that same day, mentioned it was the first time he had encountered such a situation in his lifetime. Following a series of inquiries regarding his conference participation, stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and engagement in international law discussions on the Israel-Gaza conflict, Falk and his wife were eventually permitted entry after around four hours of questioning.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) declined to comment on the specific incident, citing privacy regulations but emphasized that all individuals entering Canada are subject to secondary inspection. Falk speculated that his detention might have been linked to his role in the conference, where he intended to highlight the significance of international law in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Expressing disappointment in Canada’s treatment, Falk underscored the importance of free speech and democratic values. Azeezah Kanji, chair of the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility, expressed outrage upon learning about Falk’s detainment, prompting efforts to secure their release by contacting various officials.
Senator Yuen Pau Woo was alarmed by the incident and swiftly reached out to the Minister for Public Safety’s office upon being informed by the tribunal’s organizers. The Ministry of Public Safety redirected CBC News inquiries to the CBSA for further clarification.
Overall, the episode involving Falk’s detainment has sparked concerns over freedom of expression and the handling of individuals engaging in discussions on sensitive international matters.