URAP Press Release on the Formation of Parliamentary Uyghur Friendship Group
February 14, 2021
The Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP) welcomes the newly formed parliamentary Uyghur Friendship Group (UFG) as a bipartisan forum to promote the rights and interest of Uyghurs and other Turkic people in East Turkistan. Co-chaired by Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi and Conservative MP Garrett Genius and consisting of two dozen MPs from all political parties, UFG will play an instrumental role in Canada and globally.
“UFG has emerged as a strong bipartisan counter voice to address the unfolding Uyghur Genocide committed by the government of China despite growing international condemnation”, said Mehmet Tohti, the Executive Director of Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, “ URAP continues to work in close solidarity with UFG, not only for concrete actions in Canadian Parliament, at the same time to reach out international parliamentarians, including those in Organizations of Islamic Corporation for creation of stronger impact on the Uyghur atrocities ”
In October of 2020, the House Subcommittee on International Human Rights acknowledged the atrocities committed by the government of China against Uyghurs and other Turkic people as Genocide and offered number of important policy proposals calling on the government of Canada to take actions.
The Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project expects that the Uyghur Friendship Group plays as an instrumental role mandating itself for the full implementation of those policy proposals, including the full house recognition of Uyghur Genocide, introducing legislation to full ban of products made by Uyghur Forced labour and creation of exceptional Refugee Stream for those Uyghur refugees trapped in unsafe third countries facing deportation to China.
URAP recommends the UFG to take following initiatives urgently
UFG should issue strong condemnation for the ongoing Uyghur Genocide committed by the government of China and continuous detention of Millions of Uyghurs and other Turkic people in concentration camps.
UFG should call on China to close all concentration camps and release all detainees without any condition and ensure their safe return to normal life.
UFG should act to enact proper legislation and establish adequate mechanisms to ban all products coming to Canada through Uyghur Forced Labour and Uyghur Forced Labour associated supply chains. Necessary legislation should include provisions to ban the importation of all cotton and tomato related products from East Turkistan and exportation of Canadian technology to be used in the intrusive and pervasive surveillance. URAP is extremely concerned about the ongoing operation of Canadian Solar and Mining industries in the region without any scrutiny.
URAP continues to work with UFG to introduce proper protective measures to address the grave concern of Uyghur refugees and Uyghur advocates on Canadian soil from the persistent, systematic and overreaching harassments, intimidation and threats through the hostage taking of family members by China and urges federal government to take proactive measures for the protection of Uyghur refugees and Uyghur rights advocates.
Given the heartbreaking reality of broken families, Stateless Uyghur Orphans, single mothers with multiple children without parental support due to these Chinese brutalities, the URAP urges the UFG to push the Government of Canada to address this humanitarian crisis by creating emergency program and offering assistance for those Uyghur refugees trapped in unsafe countries where they face deportation to China.
Furthermore, the URAP urges bipartisan parliamentary resolution to officially acknowledge the crimes committed against Uyghur is genocide and to mandate the government of Canada to work with the UN and other relevant international bodies to adopt the acts committed against Uyghurs by the government of China is genocide and to advocate for global sanction to all Chinese officials who are responsible for these heinous crimes perpetuated against Uyghurs in East Turkistan.
Lastly, on behalf of Uyghur Canadians and concerned friends and allies, the URAP extends its deep appreciation and gratitude for the hardworking members of the newly formed Parliamentary Uyghur Friendship Group and wishes them success to create global impact to address the Uyghur Atrocities.
For further information
Mehmet Tohti
Executive Director
Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project
329-116 Albert Street
Ottawa, K1P 5G3
T:613 261 8512; F: 437 800 4099
@MehmetTohti
www.urap.ca