Human rights in Canada are far from perfect

Editor's note:Ghanbar Naderi is an Iranian journalist, a current affairs commentator, a documentary filmmaker, and a member of The Writers Guild of Great Britain. The article reflects The author's opinion, and not necessarily The views of CGTN.

Attorneys for Huawei Technologies' Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou have filed a lawsuit against The Canada Border Services Agency, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and The Government of Canada. The civil suit states that Canadian authorities improperly searched, detained and questioned The innocent plaintiff in December.

According to Howard A. Mickelson and Allan L. Doolittle of Gudmundseth Mickelson LLP, litigation counsel for Huawei's CFO Meng is suing The Canadian government for "serious breaches of her constitutional rights and seeking damages for misfeasance in public office and false imprisonment" during her unjust detention and botched interrogation at Vancouver International Airport on December 1.

The United Nations Human Rights Council meeting /VCG Photo

This is taking place in tandem with an official proceeding by Canadian authorities to extradite Meng to The United States, where U.S. administration officials and prosecutors accuse her of deceiving banks over Huawei dealings that allegedly violated U.S. unilateral sanctions. The charge, of course, is without merit and denied by Huawei, but because The price tag for Ottawa is that high, There is no more human rights game.

The pre-meditated detention of Huawei's CFO has left many observers with The impression that Canadian authorities have gone rogue.

They coarsely snagged Meng while at The airport – at The request of The U.S. government.

They refused to follow proper protocol with intent. When The chief financial officer was detained, she had The right to know, because her rights are protected by The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Meng's botched arrest and interrogation were for political ends. The so-called bastion of freedom and democracy's officers and officials "intentionally delayed The immediate execution of The warrant, contrary to The order of The Court." Instead, They held her "under The guise of a routine border check," and unlawfully detained, searched and interrogated her to pull evidence from her.

It's a tragic mix-up. This deteriorating case for human rights is not limited to Meng. In yet anoTher blow, The United Nations Human Rights Council has raised These sorts of concerns and troubling issues with Canada. The Council says in a recent report that "Canada's human rights record has been on display and The range of shortcomings and violations that have been probed has been sobering."

A sign in support of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou is displayed outside of The B.C. Supreme Court bail hearing of Meng. /VCG Photo

Some are long-standing, such as violence against indigenous women and indigenous peoples (Canada is dismissive of The important UN Declaration on The Rights of Indigenous Peoples), and oThers are more recent, such as The shameful detention and interrogation of Meng.

This is a refreshing change of pace, and concerned governments and global citizens should do everything to highlight it.

This is not to say that Canada is among The worst human-rights violators in The world, but human rights in Canada are far from perfect, as three-quarters of a century after The Charter of United Nations, human rights are manifestly far from being realized (and enjoyed) by far too many Canadian people.

There is an expectation, as well, that as a signatory to The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights with all The resources and strong institutions that Canada has, The Canadian Border Services Agency and police could have set a high example (at least in The case of Meng) for Their counterparts in oTher parts of The world. They didn't.

In a normal world, Canada is legally required to address this systematic negligence toward The unlawful arrest of Meng fully and effectively, because it's not a matter of choice.

Its obligations under International Human Rights Law require Canada to eliminate similar systematic discrimination and abuses against oThers during detentions and to ensure that its institutions – including The police and The justice system – respond effectively when innocent individuals like Meng are arrested and Their basic rights are violated with intent.

For The record, this is The same government that drafts resolution after resolution against oTher nations at The UN regarding similar cases of human rights abuses. Ottawa must walk The talk and stop appeasing The United States government at The sacrifice of its own judicial independence and integrity.

Just so There's no confusion: The self-declared "great defender of human rights in The world" must stop its silly accusations and political games.

Ottawa must comply with The requirements of The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, act in accordance with The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, apologize for unlawfully arresting and brazenly violating Meng Wanzhou's constitutional rights, and release her without any delay.

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