Renowned academic and former UN special rapporteur Richard Falk revealed being detained by customs officials in Toronto en route to a conference addressing human rights violations against Palestinians. Falk, a retired professor from Princeton University and former special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, was heading to Ottawa to speak at the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility.
The event, termed 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 landing at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport with his wife, Falk recounted that border agents confiscated their passports and escorted them to an interview room, citing concerns about national security threats.
Falk, who coincidentally celebrated his 95th birthday on the day of the incident, shared that they were interrogated about his conference participation, stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and views on Israel. After a four-hour ordeal, they were eventually permitted to enter Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) declined to comment on specific cases but emphasized that all travelers undergo secondary inspections as part of standard procedure.
Falk suspected that his detention was related to his involvement in the conference, where he intended to discuss the application of international law in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Expressing disappointment over Canada’s treatment, Falk highlighted the importance of free speech and democracy. Azeezah Kanji, chair of the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility, expressed outrage over the incident, mentioning efforts made to secure Falk’s release.
Senator Yuen Pau Woo, informed about the situation by the tribunal’s organizers, reached out to the minister for public safety’s office in response. Woo condemned the treatment of Falk and his wife, emphasizing the significance of their expertise in international law. The Ministry of Public Safety redirected CBC News inquiries to the CBSA for further details.