Renowned academic and former UN special rapporteur, Richard Falk, recently experienced a detainment by customs officials at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. The incident occurred as Falk was en route to speak at a conference in Ottawa addressing human rights violations against Palestinians. The conference, known as the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility, aimed to scrutinize Canada’s involvement in the plight of Palestinians, particularly in Gaza over the past two years.
Upon arrival with his wife, customs agents confiscated their passports and conducted an extensive interview, expressing concerns about potential national security threats. Falk, who turned 95 on the same day, recounted this as an unprecedented occurrence in his lifetime. Following a series of inquiries about his conference participation and views on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Falk and his wife were eventually allowed entry after a four-hour ordeal.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) declined to comment on the specific case but emphasized that all travelers are subject to secondary inspection as part of the standard entry process. Falk believes his detainment was linked to his role in the conference, where he intended to discuss the application of international law in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Expressing disappointment in Canada’s treatment, Falk highlighted the importance of free speech and liberal democracy. Conference organizer Azeezah Kanji condemned the detainment, mentioning efforts made to secure Falk’s release. Senator Yuen Pau Woo also expressed shock at the incident and reached out to the Ministry of Public Safety for clarification, emphasizing the respect owed to experts in international law like Falk.