Canadian parliament declares China’s crimes against Uighur Muslims genocide, wants 2022 winter olympics moved from Beijing
DHARAMSALA, 23 Feb: Canada’s lawmakers have declared that China is committing genocide against more than 1 million Uighurs in East Turkistan.
Canada’s lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved a non-binding motion with 260-0 votes on Monday in their lower chamber of the bicameral Parliament
The motion, tabled in the house by Conservatives calls on Canada to formally declare crimes against Uighur Muslims in China a genocide and additionally called on the International Olympic Committee to move the 2022 Winter Olympic Games from Beijing.
Opposition Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole has said a signal must be sent to the Chinese regime.
While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet abstained from voting, The Associated Press quoted a senior government official as saying that “Canada’s foreign minister will make the government’s position clear.”
However, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity has added that “declaring something in Parliament is not going to adequately get results in China and that work with international allies and partners is needed.”
That being said, Canada now joined the US in the list of countries that have described China’s inhumane treatment of the Uighur minority community as a ‘genocide’.
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared during the last day of his office that China is committing genocide against Uighurs and other ethnic minorities.
“I have determined that the People’s Republic of China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, China, targeting Uyghur Muslims and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups,” Pompeo remarked before he left office.
