Four Canadians executed in China, Ottawa says [Video]

Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Wednesday that China had executed four Canadian citizens in recent weeks, defying pleas for leniency from Ottawa.

“We strongly condemn the executions that did happen against Canadians in China,” Joly told reporters in Ottawa.

She said she was unable to discuss details of the case due to privacy requests from the affected families.

China defended the executions in a statement sent to the Globe and Mail newspaper, which indicated the Canadians had been convicted over drug offenses.

“Drug-related crime is a severe crime recognized worldwide as extremely harmful to the society,” the embassy statement sent to the Globe said.

“China always imposes severe penalties on drug-related crimes and maintains a ‘zero tolerance’ attitude towards the drug problem.”

Joly said that she and former prime minister Justin Trudeau, who left office last week, had asked China for leniency.

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