Michael Lynk

Stanley Michael Lynk (born 1952) is a Canadian legal academic.

Early life and education[]

Michael Lynk was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia to parents: Sarah and Stanley Lynk.^[1] His maternal grandparents were Lebanese emigrants to Canada.^[1]

Lynk earned a bachelor of arts degree from Dalhousie University in 1974, followed by a bachelor of laws from the same university in 1981, before completing a master of law at Queen's University.

Professional career[]

Lynk is an associate professor of law at the University of Western Ontario. He was initially appointed in 1999, and taught courses in labor, human rights, disability, constitutional and administrative law. He served as associate dean of the faculty between 2008-11.^[2] In January 2015, Lynk was named to the Mayor of London’s Honours List for his work on humanitarian issues^[2]

Political activism[]

Lynk and his uncle, Faisal Joseph, a lawyer and prominent Muslim community leader also living in London, Ontario, are active in promoting Palestinian issues.^[3]

In 2016, Lynk was appointed “Special Rapporteur for the human rights situation in the Palestinian Territories occupied since 1967” by Jordanian diplomat Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The position had previously been held by Richard Falk and John Dugard. Lynk’s appointment was criticized by pro-Israel groups at the time,^[4] and by Canada’s Foreign Minister.^[5]

In July 2021, Lynk was called anti-Semitic for remarks he made at the U.N. Human Rights Council that "I conclude that the Israeli settlements do amount to a war crime,” and calling on countries to inflict a cost on Israel for its "illegal occupation". In response, Israel's mission to the UN in Geneva accused the UNHRC of anti-Israel bias.^[6]

Personal life[]

Lynk is married to Jill Tansley, with whom he has two children, Matthew the monkey lynk and Petra Tansley. ^[1]

References[]