CFU PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feburary 1, 2023, 6:00 PM ET
Sabrina Sohail: sabrina@campaignforuyghurs.org
(650) 703-4523
Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) commends the Canadian Parliament for unanimously passing the motion to expedite the entry of 10,000 Uyghur refugees. The motion M-62 was voted by the Members of the Parliament on February 1st, 2023 which resulted in 322-0 in favor of the motion.
In 2021, Canadian parliamentarians voted unanimously (266-0) supporting the motion of holding China accountable for the Uyghur genocide. Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi followed with motion M-62 which calls on the government of Canada to take refugees of Uyghurs and other Turkic groups who have fled to third countries due to the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan.
Tens of thousands of persecuted Uyghurs and other Turkic groups who escaped East Turkistan, due to the long-lasting oppression of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are living in third countries under constant harassment, threat, and intimidation by the Chinese government to return to China, to remain silent about the atrocities in East Turkistan, and to act cautiously for the sake of their family back home. Moreover, the countries Uyghurs reside in face continued diplomatic and economic pressure from the CCP to deport the Uyghurs. Countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates agreed on an extradition agreement with the CCP and handed over thousands of Uyghurs into the hands of China, where Uyghurs are faced with lengthy prison sentences, arbitrary detention, forced labor, sterilization, and more. This transnational repression of Uyghurs has taken place in 44 countries worldwide, leaving the Uyghurs without a safe haven in the world.
Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi noted: “We can no longer stand idly by while an entire people are targeted with violence, repression, and genocide. This motion is an opportunity for us to show solidarity with the Uyghur community and to send a message of hope to those seeking safety and protection. Our action today reaffirms our commitment to standing up for human rights. Helping Uyghurs is the right thing to do. Our proud history of offering resettlement to refugees compels us to help these vulnerable people escape persecution in China.”
Dr. Rishat Abbas, Senior Advisor for Campaign For Uyghurs, President of Uyghur Academy, noted “I am honored to be here in Canadian Parliament on this historical day for the Uyghur to witness the passage of M-62 Uyghurs and other Turkic people, a motion to reaffirm its recognition of the Uyghur genocide in China and to call for special immigration measures to assist 10 thousand Uyghur refugees at risk of deportation to China from third countries. We are grateful to the Canadian Government for supporting the Uyghur cause and protecting the Uyghurs in the diaspora from the CCP. We need the world to stand with the Uyghurs, to defend human rights, to fight for democracy, and to translate the ‘Never Again’ vow to concrete action.”
Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project’s Executive Director Mehmet Tohti mentioned “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.”
CFU calls on all countries to take similar action to resettle the Uyghurs who were forced to leave their country, who are the survivors of the brutal genocide, who have been orphaned by the extradition agreement, and who are still under the threat of the CCP. We need to stand up against the CCP, condemn China for the Uyghur genocide, reject the products made with Uyghur forced labor, and restore the world’s freedom and democracy.
