Statement by the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project on Hon. Michael Chong

March 28, 2021

URAP stands by with Hon. Michael Chong and Subcommittee of International Human Rights against unlawful sanctions levied by China’ government.

On March 27, 2021, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced sanction list targeting Conservative MP Hon. Michael Chong and Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the House of Commons of Canada (SDIR).

China’s sanction seems to be retaliatory action for Hon. Michael Chong’s spearheaded role in tabling Uyghur Genocide Motion in the Parliamentary vote.  SDIR and its members from 4 different political parties have worked tirelessly by listening more than 25 witnesses and victims’ testimonies before coming to conclusion that the atrocities committed by the government of China against the Uyghur constitute genocide on October 21, 2020.

Hon. Michael Chong and members of SDIR have exercised their constitutional rights of free speech and stood up for justice by opposing the egregious crimes of genocide and crime against humanity that has been committed by the government of China against Uyghur people in East Turkistan.

Sanction levied against Hon. Michael Chong is an attempt by the China’s government to further suffocating the free speech and expanding its restrictions beyond its territory.

Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project stands by with Hon. Michael Chong and supports his relentless efforts to uphold our values and core principles that are dear to all Canadians.

URAP also welcomes intensive debates triggered among Chinese nitizens due to China’s sanction against western parliamentarians, entities and experts.

It is obvious that China’s sanctions backfired and awakened Chinese populations to ask questions.

Apparently, according to posts shared by the China Digital Times, ordinarily Chinese nitzens are voicing similar concerns that Hon. Michael Chong has been advocating for: “Freedom of marriage for Uyghurs without enforced by the government, freedom to have childbirth, normal life without enforced family separation, no ban on language, culture and tradition of Uyghurs, stop the Uyghur forced labour, mass incarceration…”

These are the lines of talks that ordinarily nitizens are sharing on China’s social platforms, completely contradicts and refutes the China’s government’s own official narratives on the subject matter.

URAP continues to work with our parliamentarians and government officials by sharing documentation and resources for better promoting the rights of Uyghurs whose rights are denied in China by the government.

For more information:

Mehmet Tohti

Executive director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project

613 261 8512/ secure@urap.ca / @mehmetTohti/ @Uyghuradvocacy

www.urap.ca