Extradition: The Search for Huseyin Celil

Extradition: The Search for Huseyin Celil Podcast

In 2006, Canadian Huseyin Celil, a Uyghur refugee, travelled with his wife and children to Uzebekistan to visit family. What was supposed to be a family reunion ended when he was arrested under false pretenses and eventually delivered to China where he was sent to prison. 17-years later, his fate remains unknown and his family desperate for answers. ‘Extradition: The Search for Huseyin Celil,’ a six-part investigative series from TVO Today, reopens the diplomatic cold case. With China implementing harsher crackdowns on its Uyghur population, Huseyin was cut off from communicating from his family. No one knows how he’s doing or where he is. In the wake of the release of the Two Michaels in 2021, the series re-examines why Canada couldn’t do the same for Huseyin. It investigates whether the Canadian government has done all it can to release him, and takes matters into its own hands to get more information on Huseyin’s whereabouts today. Hosted by Yusuf Zine.

Season 1

  1. EPISODE 1

    Chapter I - Someone Named Guler Dilaver

    17 years ago, Chinese authorities imprisoned a Canadian Uyghur refugee named Huseyin Celil on false charges of terrorism and murder. No one has heard from him since 2017. How can a Canadian disappear in China without recourse? Host Yusuf Zine finds a clue on Huseyin's last known location and asks how the Canadian government can be shut out of a citizen's trial abroad and why this consular case lost public attention. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theagendatvo/ X (formerly Twitter) - https://x.com/TheAgenda YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/theagenda Subscribe to TVO Media Education Group newsletters: https://www.tvo.org/newsletters     Clip credits: CNN coverage of 9/11 attacks - Sept. 11, 2001 - Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company/youtube.com September 11, 2001. Live TV Coverage Montage - via AAP Video/youtube.com September 11, 2001: Former President George W. Bush addresses the nation - ABC News/youtube.com Wife of Canadian Uyghur Imprisoned in China Wants Husband Back - Voice of America/youtube.com     TVO Media Education Group inspires learning that changes lives and enriches communities. Founded in 1970, we are a globally recognized digital learning organization that engages Ontarians of all ages with inclusive experiences and diverse perspectives. Through video, audio, games, courses, newsletters and articles, we’re investing in the transformative potential of education for everyone. Funded primarily by the Province of Ontario, TVO is a registered charity supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. For more information, visit TVO.me, TVO.org and TVOkids.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  2. EPISODE 2

    Chapter II - Last Known Location

    The elusive founder of the Xinjiang Victims Database, Gene Bunin, gives more details on Huseyin Celil's whereabouts. A Google Earth satellite search, assisted by Alison Killings, offers a peek into what is inside northwestern China's "prison park." A former inmate recalls China's treatment of Uyghur prisoners. Finally, host Yusuf Zine considers a strategy that no one has attempted before to get updates on Huseyin. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theagendatvo/ X (formerly Twitter) - https://x.com/TheAgenda YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/theagenda Subscribe to TVO Media Education Group newsletters: https://www.tvo.org/newsletters   Clip credits New evidence of Uyghur children separated from their families in China - BBC News/BBC/youtube.com Surviving China’s Uighur camps | Reporters Plus - FRANCE 24 English/FRANCE 24/youtube.com Why more than a million Uighurs are being held in camps in China - Guardian News China denies report that Uyghur children are being held in boarding schools - CNN Leaked data offers significant new insights into China's Uyghur detention camps - BBC News China cables: 'Don't listen to fake news' about Xinjiang camps, says Chinese ambassador - Guardian News China's Foreign Minister criticizes Canadian reporter for her question - CBC News China's ambassador denies abuse of Uighurs in Xinjiang during Andrew Marr interview - Guardian News Xinjiang religious leader: U.S. should get facts straight - CGTN Inside China's 'thought transformation' camps - BBC News Officials: 'Xinjiang Victims Database' is based on fabrications - CGTN       TVO Media Education Group inspires learning that changes lives and enriches communities. Founded in 1970, we are a globally recognized digital learning organization that engages Ontarians of all ages with inclusive experiences and diverse perspectives. Through video, audio, games, courses, newsletters and articles, we’re investing in the transformative potential of education for everyone. Funded primarily by the Province of Ontario, TVO is a registered charity supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. For more information, visit TVO.me, TVO.org and TVOkids.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  3. EPISODE 4

    Chapter IV - The Art of Diplomacy

    The team goes back to the drawing board on how to best get information on Huseyin Celil. They turn to two high profile former Canadian politicians and an American self-described, human rights salesman, for help. Meanwhile, Huseyin Celil's family still will not return host Yusuf Zine's calls and Yusuf takes stock of who this show really serves. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theagendatvo/ X (formerly Twitter) - https://x.com/TheAgenda YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/theagenda Subscribe to TVO Media Education Group newsletters: https://www.tvo.org/newsletters     Clip credits Canada's Conservative Party wins majority government - ABC News (Australia) Chinese Fugitive Lai Changxing Faces Trial in Xiamen - NTD Televison WRAP Canadian FM Peter MacKay meets Chinese FM ADDS presser - AP Archive China confirms arrests of two detained Canadians - CGTN China charged two Canadians with spying: What happens next? - CBC News Two Michaels released from China - City News 1130 Two Michaels receive standing ovation in House of Commons #shorts - CBC News What we've learned about the Chinese spy balloon - CBS News Chinese government operating illegal 'police stations' in Canada: RCMP report - CTV News China accuses Canada of smearing its reputation over allegedly operating overseas 'police stations' - CTV News Joly: Canada is expelling Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei over alleged threats to MP Chong - CTV News Canada braces for retaliation over Chinese diplomat's expulsion- CBC News: The National     TVO Media Education Group inspires learning that changes lives and enriches communities. Founded in 1970, we are a globally recognized digital learning organization that engages Ontarians of all ages with inclusive experiences and diverse perspectives. Through video, audio, games, courses, newsletters and articles, we’re investing in the transformative potential of education for everyone. Funded primarily by the Province of Ontario, TVO is a registered charity supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. For more information, visit TVO.me, TVO.org and TVOkids.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min
  4. EPISODE 6

    Chapter VI - Dear Huseyin

    The team investigates how "actively engaged" the Government of Canada is on the case of Huseyin Celil. Plus, the team makes their final round of calls to the Xinjiang No. 1 Prison in a last-ditch attempt to learn anything about Huseyin's location and well-being. This time, there's a new and surprising response from the jail. Finally, host Yusuf Zine reflects on the results of this search for Huseyin - and adds his own personal letter to the piles of correspondence trying to reach him. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theagendatvo/ X (formerly Twitter) - https://x.com/TheAgenda YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/theagenda Subscribe to TVO Media Education Group newsletters: https://www.tvo.org/newsletters     Clip credits: Wife of Huseyincan Celil makes impassioned plea for government to take greater role in securing his freedom - Global News Release Huseyin Celil! - Garnett Genuis’ Facebook (ParlVu) Dominic Barton on Canadian Huseyin Celil - CBC MP says ‘Canada is meeting the moment’ as Parliament votes to support the relocation of 10,000 Uyghurs - CBC Canadian MP Heather McPherson criticises Canada’s parliament for ‘politicising human rights’ - Middle East Eye Beat 1163: Shehide, USA (English) - Uyghur Pulse Beat 1205: Subhi, USA (English) - Uyghur Pulse Beat 1210: Nurhoja, Australia (English) - Uyghur Pulse Beat 1049: Jewlan, Turkey (English) - Uyghur Pulse Beat 1206: Tumaris, USA (English) - Uyghur Pulse Beat 221: Abduweli, Norway (English) - Uyghur Pulse Hostage Diplomacy: The forgotten Canadian imprisoned in China - Global News     TVO Media Education Group inspires learning that changes lives and enriches communities. Founded in 1970, we are a globally recognized digital learning organization that engages Ontarians of all ages with inclusive experiences and diverse perspectives. Through video, audio, games, courses, newsletters and articles, we’re investing in the transformative potential of education for everyone. Funded primarily by the Province of Ontario, TVO is a registered charity supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. For more information, visit TVO.me, TVO.org and TVOkids.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min
  5. Introducing "Extradition"

    SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Introducing "Extradition"

    ‘Extradition: The Search for Huseyin Celil’ reopens the diplomatic cold case of a Canadian Uyghur refugee imprisoned in China. In the wake of the release of the Two Michaels in 2021, the series re-examines why Canada couldn’t do the same for Huseyin. With China implementing harsher crackdowns on its Uyghur Muslim population, Huseyin was cut off from communicating from his family. No one knows how he’s doing or where he is. This six-part investigative series from TVO Today investigates whether the Canadian government has done all it can to release him and takes matters into its own hands to get more information on Huseyin’s whereabouts today. Hosted by Yusuf Zine.  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theagendatvo/ X (formerly Twitter) - https://x.com/TheAgenda YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/theagenda Subscribe to TVO Media Education Group newsletters: https://www.tvo.org/newsletters       TVO Media Education Group inspires learning that changes lives and enriches communities. Founded in 1970, we are a globally recognized digital learning organization that engages Ontarians of all ages with inclusive experiences and diverse perspectives. Through video, audio, games, courses, newsletters and articles, we’re investing in the transformative potential of education for everyone. Funded primarily by the Province of Ontario, TVO is a registered charity supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. For more information, visit TVO.me, TVO.org and TVOkids.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    3 min

Trailer

About

In 2006, Canadian Huseyin Celil, a Uyghur refugee, travelled with his wife and children to Uzebekistan to visit family. What was supposed to be a family reunion ended when he was arrested under false pretenses and eventually delivered to China where he was sent to prison. 17-years later, his fate remains unknown and his family desperate for answers. ‘Extradition: The Search for Huseyin Celil,’ a six-part investigative series from TVO Today, reopens the diplomatic cold case. With China implementing harsher crackdowns on its Uyghur population, Huseyin was cut off from communicating from his family. No one knows how he’s doing or where he is. In the wake of the release of the Two Michaels in 2021, the series re-examines why Canada couldn’t do the same for Huseyin. It investigates whether the Canadian government has done all it can to release him, and takes matters into its own hands to get more information on Huseyin’s whereabouts today. Hosted by Yusuf Zine.

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