Ideas Massey Lecture Part 3 | Human rights don’t have to be earned
Nov 19, 2025
In this engaging talk, human rights lawyer Alex Neve explores the idea that our inherent rights are yours from birth, not a privilege to be earned. He shares eye-opening stories from his visits to camps in Syria and highlights the struggles of Canadians caught in geopolitical crossfires. Neve critiques how power creates a 'club' of rights based on race and wealth, while discussing the importance of grassroots activism. His passionate discourse challenges listeners to reflect on the universality of human rights and the collective action needed to uphold them.
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Northeast Syria Detention Visit
- Alex Neve recounts visiting detention camps and prisons in northeast Syria where thousands, including children, were held without charge or proper care.
- He describes being denied access to many detainees and learning that Canada refused consular support for some nationals.
F.J.'s Tragic Choice And Death
- Neve tells the tragic story of F.J., a Canadian woman forced to choose between safety for her children and her own repatriation.
- After fleeing the camp, she was later detained in Turkey and found dead in her cell under unresolved circumstances.
Hussein Chalil's Lost Freedom
- Neve shares Hussein Chalil's story: a Uyghur resettled in Canada who was later deported from Uzbekistan and imprisoned in China after a secret trial.
- He recounts the Chinese ambassador telling him, "As far as you are concerned, he has no rights."
