URAP and Uyghur Groups Urge Cabinet Members to Vote on M-62
February 1, 2023
Members of Parliament are voting today to pass MP Sameer Zuberi’s private member’s motion M-62, which aims to resettle 10,000 Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims into Canada by 2024. The final debate, which took place on Monday, January 30th, saw broad support for the motion from parliament members across the political spectrum. Speakers referred to M-62 as a necessary first action by Canada following the unanimous House recognition of the Uyghur genocide in February 2021, and encouraged their colleagues to review the evidence available on the Uyghur genocide before casting their votes. Many also acknowledged the hard work of Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and the Uyghur delegation watching from the viewing area.
This delegation, including President of the World Uyghur Congress in Munich, Dolkun Isa; Executive Director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project in D.C., Omer Kanat; and Executive Director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project in Ottawa, Mehmet Tohti, have travelled to Ottawa to witness this historic vote on M-62 with the expectation that they will see cabinet ministers cast their votes alongside members of parliament.
The global Uyghur community has witnessed Canada take the lead on Uyghur issues for a number of years; after Canadian parliament’s recognition of the Uyghur genocide, 10 parliaments around the world followed. Now, Canada has the opportunity to take concrete action, to pass a historic motion to bring 10,000 Uyghurs to safety, and the Canadian government has the opportunity to claim this legislation, and publicly stand up for the rights and safety of Uyghurs. We expect our government and cabinet ministers to do the right thing and vote yes.
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