A well-known academic and former UN special rapporteur recounted being stopped by customs officials in Toronto while en route to a conference addressing human rights violations against Palestinians. Richard Falk, a retired professor from Princeton University who previously served as a special rapporteur for the Commission on Human Rights, was traveling to Ottawa to participate in the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility over the weekend. The event, described as a “people’s tribunal,” aimed to scrutinize and document Canada’s involvement in the genocide and displacement of Palestinians, particularly in Gaza over the past two years.
Upon their arrival at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport on Thursday, Falk and his wife were detained by border agents who confiscated their passports and escorted them to an interview room. The officials informed them that they needed to assess whether the couple posed a national security threat to Canada. Falk, who coincidentally was celebrating his 95th birthday that day, expressed surprise at the situation, stating that such an experience had never befallen him before.
Following a series of inquiries about Falk’s conference participation, his role in the Israel-Palestine conflict, and his stance on Israel, the couple was eventually cleared after approximately four hours and permitted entry into Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) declined to provide specifics on the incident, citing privacy laws, but noted that all travelers undergo secondary inspection upon entering the country.
Falk suspected that his detention was linked to his involvement in the conference, where he intended to discuss the significance of international law in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Expressing disappointment in Canada’s actions, especially considering its recognition of Palestinian statehood, Falk criticized the country’s apparent hostility towards a conference that aimed to enlighten the public on the issues surrounding Israel’s actions.
Azeezah Kanji, chair of the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility, expressed outrage upon learning about Falk’s detainment and revealed that frantic efforts were made to secure his release upon receiving a distress call from his wife. Various officials were contacted in a bid to facilitate Falk’s release, emphasizing the widespread concern over the incident.
Senator Yuen Pau Woo, informed about the situation by the tribunal’s organizers, promptly reached out to the minister for public safety’s office, condemning the treatment of two esteemed international law experts, especially on Falk’s 95th birthday. In response to inquiries, the Ministry of Public Safety redirected queries to the CBSA for further clarification.