Renowned academic and former UN special rapporteur Richard Falk revealed that he and his wife were detained by customs officials at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport on their way to a conference addressing human rights violations against Palestinians. Falk, a retired professor from Princeton University and a former special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, was en route to Ottawa for the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility event. This tribunal aimed to examine Canada’s involvement in the displacement and mistreatment of Palestinians, particularly focusing on recent events in Gaza.
After being taken to an interview room by border agents, Falk expressed surprise at being questioned about his views on the Israel-Palestine conflict and his role in the upcoming conference. Despite the lengthy interrogation lasting about four hours, Falk and his wife were eventually allowed entry into Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency declined to comment on this specific case but emphasized that secondary inspections are a routine part of the border-crossing process for all travelers.
Falk suspected that his detention was linked to his participation in the conference, where he intended to discuss the significance of international law in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Disappointed by the incident, Falk criticized Canada for its handling of the situation, noting that the country should uphold principles of free speech and liberal democracy.
The chair of the Palestine Tribunal on Canadian Responsibility, Azeezah Kanji, expressed outrage upon learning about Falk’s detention and mobilized efforts to secure his release. Senator Yuen Pau Woo, informed of the incident, promptly contacted the minister for public safety to address the matter. Woo condemned the treatment of Falk and his wife, emphasizing the importance of respecting prominent international law experts like Falk, especially on his 95th birthday. The Ministry of Public Safety redirected inquiries to the Canada Border Services Agency for further details.
