URAP Bi-weekly Newsletter October 31-November 11
News:
· Radio Free Asia Uyghur Service reported on the in-person meeting of PM Justin Trudeau with Uyghur community leaders
· Politico reported on MPs Zuberi and Duceppe of the Uyghur Friendship Group travelling to Brussels to participate the Uyghur International Forum.
· URAP Director Mehmet Tohti was quoted by the Toronto Star on November 1: “I would like to see Canada provide equal treatment to all vulnerable people suffering from the same atrocity crimes. I don’t believe differential treatment for refugees fits into our value system.”
· URAP Policy Advisor Margaret McCuaig-Johnston was quoted in the Toronto Star on October 28 discussing motion M-62
· Mehmet Tohti was quoted in a VOA article on M-62: "Uyghurs who fled to countries like Turkey are vulnerable for being repatriated to China," Tohti told VOA. "Countries like Turkey where most Uyghur refugees live depend on China economically and that can influence those countries' decision on how to deal with Uyghur refugees, like intimidating them to return to China."
· URAP Director Mehmet Tohti held a live online session with Uyghur blogger Arslan Hidayet following the M-62 Motion on October 28
Organization activities:
· URAP x URRF x Uyghur Mosque x ETAC debriefing session following the M-62 October 26 tabling event
On October 28, Uyghur Canadian NGOs held an informal de-briefing session following the M-62 debate. Organizations present were Uyghur Mosque, Darman Foundation, ETA, URAP and URRF. We discussed the timeline for the motion and vote which will occur in January 2023, the need for additional community mobilisation, and summarized the events of October 26.
· Meeting with Anti-Slavery Coalition/End Uyghur Forced Labour
On October 31, a virtual meeting took place with the participation of close to 14 NGOs involved in the campaign.
· URAP Policy Advisor Mr. Marcus Kolga testified before CNAC (Canada-China Committee)
Last week on November 2, Marcus Kolga testified before CNAC in an eye-opening hearing on foreign interference in the Canadian elections from 2021, which revealed significant Chinese interference in the campaigns of multiple Canadian MPs.
· Outreach with the Tigrayan community
On November 2, Mehmet Tohti joined a web conference on the ongoing atrocities in Tigray where he discussed the Uyghur genocide.
· Uyghur NED Meeting
On November 3, Uyghur NGOs affiliated with NED (National Endowment Fund for Democracy) joined a general online session. The main topic discussed was on strengthening further cooperation between transcontinental Uyghur groups.
· Meeting with PM Justin Trudeau
URAP’s Project Coordinator Kayum Masimov, along with other community activists, joined a Liberal Party event in Montreal on November 7. URAP raised many topics with PM Trudeau including M-62, CBSA, current bills under consideration in the parliament, the case of Huseyin Celil, and transnational repression faced by Uyghur-Canadians.
· Meeting with Liberal MP Emmanuella Lambrapoulos and Uyghur Community
On November 8, MP Lambrapoulos met with Uyghurs from her riding, and expressed her desire to join the Uyghur Friendship Group on the Hill.
· URAP attendance in Brussels for the International Uyghur Forum
URAP’s team along with Policy and Legal Advisors, and 2 Canadian MPs – Sameer Zuberi and Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe – participated at the International Uyghur Forum in Brussels, Belgium between November 9-10, 2022. The Canadian delegation contributed significantly to panels and brainstorming discussions, aiding in the establishment of the Brussels Declaration, a result of the two-day conference.
Upcoming events:
· November 24 (online event): Montreal Institute for Genocide Studies is hosting Benedict Rogers and Nury Turkel in Montreal for a hybrid event launching Benedict Rogers’ new book, The China Nexus. You can register to join the event online here.
· January 2023: The vote on M-62 will probably take place early in 2023. Community members may travel to Ottawa and express their support in the Parliament. Details TBA.