4 Canadians were executed in China on drug-related charges earlier this year, Canadian authorities have confirmed.
All of them were dual citizens, and their identities have been withheld upon the request of their families, Canada’s foreign minister Mรฉlanie Joly told reporters on Wednesday.
She condemned the killings as “irreversible and inconsistent with basic human dignity”, adding that she had “asked personally for leniency”.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canada said evidence for the Canadian nationals’ crimes was “solid and sufficient” and urged Canada to “stop making irresponsible remarks”, according to reports.
The Chinese embassy also added that Beijing had “fully guaranteed the rights and interests of the Canadian nationals concerned” and urged the Canadian government to respect “China’s judicial sovereignty”. (BBC)