Hamilton Spectator
20-11-06, 10:38
PM's push on Celil cheers family
Canadian Press Photos
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Huseyin Celil
Top of the World
The Canadian Press
TORONTO (Nov 20, 2006)
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/images/hs/hs1524881_1.jpg
It was brief and unofficial. But the meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Chinese counterpart is an "important first step," say those fighting for the release of a Burlington man jailed in China.
Chris MacLeod, a lawyer representing the family of Chinese-Canadian Huseyin Celil, centre photo, said Harper's commitment to address the issue with Chinese President Hu Jintao, at right, shows Canada won't tolerate China's disregard for international law or its poor treatment of Canadian citizens.
Celil was arrested while visiting relatives with his wife and children in Uzbekistan last March, and was extradited to his native China in June. His family fears he could face the death penalty for his activism on behalf of China's minority Uighur population.
Neither his family nor Canadian officials have heard anything about Celil since his arrest.
Harper wouldn't discuss Hu's reaction to Celil's case, but a Chinese official told Canadian reporters that it's his country's perspective that Celil is Chinese, even though he has officially renounced that citizenship.
Kamila Telendibaeva, Celil's wife and the mother of his four children, was hoping for more answers regarding his incarceration, health and ultimately the timeline for his release. But she was still thankful Harper brought up the subject.
China has signed the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, but has been criticized for failing to live up to its obligations, which include notifying Canada if it has detained one of its citizens, allowing access to that person and providing him with legal representation and a fair and transparent trial.
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/pdfs/20061120/A3.pdf
Canadian Press Photos
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Huseyin Celil
Top of the World
The Canadian Press
TORONTO (Nov 20, 2006)
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/images/hs/hs1524881_1.jpg
It was brief and unofficial. But the meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Chinese counterpart is an "important first step," say those fighting for the release of a Burlington man jailed in China.
Chris MacLeod, a lawyer representing the family of Chinese-Canadian Huseyin Celil, centre photo, said Harper's commitment to address the issue with Chinese President Hu Jintao, at right, shows Canada won't tolerate China's disregard for international law or its poor treatment of Canadian citizens.
Celil was arrested while visiting relatives with his wife and children in Uzbekistan last March, and was extradited to his native China in June. His family fears he could face the death penalty for his activism on behalf of China's minority Uighur population.
Neither his family nor Canadian officials have heard anything about Celil since his arrest.
Harper wouldn't discuss Hu's reaction to Celil's case, but a Chinese official told Canadian reporters that it's his country's perspective that Celil is Chinese, even though he has officially renounced that citizenship.
Kamila Telendibaeva, Celil's wife and the mother of his four children, was hoping for more answers regarding his incarceration, health and ultimately the timeline for his release. But she was still thankful Harper brought up the subject.
China has signed the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, but has been criticized for failing to live up to its obligations, which include notifying Canada if it has detained one of its citizens, allowing access to that person and providing him with legal representation and a fair and transparent trial.
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/pdfs/20061120/A3.pdf