
The World Uyghur Congress applauds and is greatly encouraged by the passing of a strong resolution
by the European Parliament on the Uyghur crisis, passed by an
overwhelming majority. This marks the third time in just over a year
that the European Parliament has addressed the crisis in a resolution
and demonstrates its and the EU’s resolve to take meaningful action to
stop China’s crimes against humanity against Uyghurs.
The passing of this resolution comes a day after Uyghur professor
Ilham Tohti was awarded the prestigious Sakharov Prize by the European
Parliament for his work. The passing of this resolution and the decision
to award Ilham Tohti the Sakharov Prize sends a clear message to the
Chinese government that the EU is willing to take concrete steps to
close the internment camps and stop the persecution of Uyghurs and other
ethnic groups in East Turkistan.
The resolution strongly emphacized a turning point in the EU’s
attitude and position on the crisis in East Turkistan. While the EU has
been among the loudest voices calling for the camps to be closed, it had
yet to take strong and concrete action to realize this goal. The
provisions included in this resolution build on the two previous
resolutions, giving the EU a strong mandate to take the necessary steps
to take meaningful action on this issue.
This resolution echoes previous resolutions in calling for the camps
to be closed, the practice of arbitrary detention against Uyghurs to end
and urges the Chinese government to publish the names, status and
current whereabouts of all those in the camps and otherwise arbitrarily
detained. It also calls on the EU to do more to protect Uyghur residents
and citizens in EU member states from harassment and intimidation by
the Chinese government.
The WUC is very pleased to see this resolution pass and to hear the
commitments for the EU to take meaningful and concrete action to end the
crimes against humanity being perpetrated against the Uyghur people by
the Chinese government.
“We are very encouraged that human rights remain a priority for the
European Union and that the Uyghur people have not been abandoned by the
international community,” WUC President Dolkun Isa stated. “We look
forward to the EU implementing the provisions of this resolution, which
would have a real and meaningful impact on ending the suffering of the
Uyghur people.
This resolution also expands on previous measures taken by the EU by
calling for concrete action in a number of clauses. The resolution calls
on European companies to assess their business in East Turkistan and
their supply chains to ensure that they were not complicit in the
serious human rights violations. It further calls for a ban in European
markets for any products made with forced labor. Noting with concern the
spread of repressive security and surveillance technology tested in the
Uyghur region, the resolution also calls for EU members states and the
international community to consider ways of halting all exports and
technology transfers of goods and services that are being used by China
to extend and improve its cyber surveillance.
Importantly, the resolution welcomes the Council of the EU’s decision
to start working to adopt a targeted sanction regime and calls on the
Council “to adopt targeted sanctions and asset freezes, should they be
deemed appropriate and effective, against the Chinese officials
responsible for devising and implementing the policy of mass detention
of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang and for orchestrating a
severe repression.”
This new resolve from the European Parliament to meaningfully address
China’s horrific persecution of the Uyghur people was further reflected
in the strong statements made by MEPs at a debate on the issue the
previous day. MEP Phil Bennion stated, “The European Union needs to
demand that the Chinese authorities respect their fundamental rights and
freedoms. We should sanction human rights violations. […] We cannot
stand by and have normal relations with China while these appalling
human rights violations are taking place.”
MEP Reinhard Bütikofer also focused on the EU taking concrete action
and holding European companies accountable, saying, “We call on EU based
companies to draw clear red lines. They are running a high reputational
risk if they do not implement a robust human rights due diligence
system that makes sure they are not implicated in acts of repression […]
and we also need an EU human rights sanctions mechanism.”
This resolve to take more action was further echoed by MEP Raphael
Glucksmann, who said, “We have broken the silence by granting the
Sakharov Prize to Ilham Tohti, but that is not enough. We now have to
act. We need sanctions. Sanctions against the Chinese leaders who are
directly involved.”
Many other MEPs including Vice President of the EP Fabio Massimo
Castaldo, MEPs Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Sophia in ‘t Veld, Michael Gahler, Kati
Piri, Anna Fotygo, David Lega and many others also made strong
statements on the issue.
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