Group protests China's silence on fate of Canadian citizen

A dozen peoplegathered in Toronto on Thursday to protest the fate of a Canadian man who was extradited to China, where he may face the death sentence, in what some say is an example of a growing problemraised bydual citizenship.

Huseyincan Celil, who holds Canadian and Chinese citizenship,was arrested in Uzbekistan in late March while visiting the country, then was extradited to China, where he had beensentenced to death in absentia for his political activities.

"He had a Canadian passport and he belonged to Canada and he thought Canada can protect [him]," said Celil's wife, Camilla.

A Foreign Affairs spokesperson said Canada doesn't know exactly where Celilis, under what conditions he is being held orif he's even still alive.

The 37-year-old father of sixwas arrested in China in the mid-1990s, but escaped prison and was granted refugee status inTurkey in 2001. He then came to Canada, where he became a citizen and settled in Burlington.

Case highlights problem for dual citizens

Amnesty International said Canadians with dual nationality should take note of the case.

"It should be something very worrying for Canadians who have more than one nationality," said Alex Neve, the Canadian chapter's secretary general. "He was a Canadian citizen not in China, travelling on a Canadian passport."

The demonstrators, including Celil's wife, gathered outside the Chinese consulate in downtown Toronto to protestagainst China's silence on Celil's whereabouts and Canada's lack of action.

Neve said Chinese authorities have confirmed they are holding Celil and added thatthe Canadian government should act to make sure he's not being tortured.

Ottawahas an agreement with Beijing that anyone of Chinese ancestry who enters China with a Canadian passport is recognized as a Canadian citizen.