China executed four Canadian nationals over drug charges earlier this year, prompting strong rebukes from the Western country amidst an already rocky relationship.
It is unclear exactly when this year the executions took place, but Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said Wednesday she and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to stop them — and are seeking leniency “for other Canadians that are facing a similar situation,” the Wall Street Journal reported.
The victims were described as “Canadian nationals” who held dual citizenship with China, though China does not recognize dual citizenship.
China treats drug charges with a notoriously heavy hand, issuing lifetime prison sentences for smuggling and sometimes even meting out executions — though they are rarely carried out against Westerners.
“Canada strongly condemns China’s use of the death penalty, which is irreversible and inconsistent with basic human dignity,” a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said.
Hellbound and Down 