Thanking International Nations who Supported Detained Canadian Michael Kovrig in Beijing
March 24th, 2021
Justice for All Canada salutes those international diplomats who stood outside the courthouse in support of Michael Kovrig's hearing in Beijing on Monday, March 22nd, 2021.
Jim Nickel (Canadian Embassy's chargé d'affaires) and William Klein (U.S. Embassy Acting Deputy Chief of Mission) were joined by several other diplomats and journalists, despite being denied entry into the trial. It’s unfortunate to learn that even after the Canadian Embassy in Beijing made repeated attempts to access the hearing, they were denied and blocked from attending the trial.
Michael Kovrig is a Canadian citizen arbitrarily detained in China for more than 2 years. Beijing courts also held a secret hearing for fellow detained Canadian, Michael Spavor, just a few days before Kovrig’s appearance on Monday.
"This trial is a mere show, which offers China leverage in its recent discussion with the United States," said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
“The strong force of security shown outside the courthouse has obstructed the work of human rights workers to find out more about the events on Monday. It was clear that Beijing did not want the story covered in the region. Of course, this also makes us question China's legal process,” added Ghayyur.
Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were initially detained as an act of retaliation by China, following the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in the United States. Last month, Canada launched the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations.
58 countries endorsed this declaration, including the European Union, which reaffirmed the importance of concretely standing against harsh prison conditions, torture or cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment, and the refusal of legal assistance for foreign nations and people with dual citizenship.
“We have been closely monitoring how Canada is living up to its principles by implementing the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention. When refusing to deal with states like China that practice such arbitrary detention, Canada should also exert diplomatic pressure to free Spavor and Kovrig. Otherwise, such declarations remain futile for human rights,” explained Taha Ghayyur.
Justice for All Canada salutes those international diplomats who stood outside the courthouse in support of Michael Kovrig's hearing in Beijing on Monday, March 22nd, 2021.
Jim Nickel (Canadian Embassy's chargé d'affaires) and William Klein (U.S. Embassy Acting Deputy Chief of Mission) were joined by several other diplomats and journalists, despite being denied entry into the trial. It’s unfortunate to learn that even after the Canadian Embassy in Beijing made repeated attempts to access the hearing, they were denied and blocked from attending the trial.
Michael Kovrig is a Canadian citizen arbitrarily detained in China for more than 2 years. Beijing courts also held a secret hearing for fellow detained Canadian, Michael Spavor, just a few days before Kovrig’s appearance on Monday.
"This trial is a mere show, which offers China leverage in its recent discussion with the United States," said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
“The strong force of security shown outside the courthouse has obstructed the work of human rights workers to find out more about the events on Monday. It was clear that Beijing did not want the story covered in the region. Of course, this also makes us question China's legal process,” added Ghayyur.
Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were initially detained as an act of retaliation by China, following the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in the United States. Last month, Canada launched the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations.
58 countries endorsed this declaration, including the European Union, which reaffirmed the importance of concretely standing against harsh prison conditions, torture or cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment, and the refusal of legal assistance for foreign nations and people with dual citizenship.
“We have been closely monitoring how Canada is living up to its principles by implementing the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention. When refusing to deal with states like China that practice such arbitrary detention, Canada should also exert diplomatic pressure to free Spavor and Kovrig. Otherwise, such declarations remain futile for human rights,” explained Taha Ghayyur.