(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Canada believe their federal administration should do more to assist Huseyin Celil, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 46 per cent of respondents think the Canadian government should protest Celil’s sentence in China through regular diplomatic channels, and 27 per cent want Ottawa to publicly condemn China’s actions, even if it risks possible retaliation.

Conversely, 15 per cent of respondents think the Canadian government should do nothing and accept the determination of the Chinese legal system.

Earlier this month, Celil was sentenced to life in prison on terrorism charges. Celil was originally detained in 1994 for establishing a minority political party, and has been accused of plotting the assassination of a political leader in Kyrgyzstan. The Canadian government believes there is no clear evidence that Celil has committed any offences.

Celil immigrated to Canada in 2001, and was arrested and sent to China during a trip to Uzbekistan in 2006. China has treated Celil as a Chinese citizen, despite the fact that the country signed an agreement with Canada in 1997, where it pledges to consider any person travelling with a Canadian passport as a Canadian citizen, regardless of his or her place of birth.

On Apr. 30, Canadian foreign affairs minister Peter MacKay discussed the situation, saying, "(Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi) assured me that (...) there had been no signs of torture or mistreatment of Mr. Celil. We’d very much like to have access ourselves to make that determination, and what I can assure you is that we will continue to insist upon this access." 76 per cent of respondents think Canada should place more emphasis on human rights and minority rights in its long-term policy with China, up four points since February.

Polling Data

As you may know, a dual Chinese-Canadian citizen named Huseyin Celil has been convicted in a Chinese court on terrorism charges and sentenced to life in prison. The Canadian government believes there is no clear evidence that Celil, a minority rights activist, has committed any offences. Foreign affairs minister Peter MacKay has said Chinese authorities refused to respond to Canada’s concerns about the case, and did not allow Canadian officials to provide consular assistance to Celil. Which of these statements comes closest to your own view?

In terms of Canada’s long-term policy with China, where do you think we should place more emphasis?

Complete Poll (PDF)

Archive Search

Over 14,700 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.