Ottawa, May 29: As Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in Canada, a prominent Uyghur international rights organization has urged the Canadian government to openly discuss China’s human rights violations. They caution against normalizing relations with China without holding it accountable.
Wang Yi’s three-day visit from May 28 to 30 coincides with efforts by both nations to enhance cooperation through trade and strategic agreements. This marks the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Canada in nearly a decade.
The Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP), based in Canada, has appealed to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Foreign Minister Anita Anand to raise the issue of mass detentions and surveillance of Uyghurs in East Turkestan, also known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, during their meeting with Wang.
The organization also called for discussions on forced labor, exploitation in supply chains, and China’s increasing pressure tactics targeting Uyghur activists and human rights supporters in Canada.
URAP warns that if Canada proceeds with new agreements and strategic partnerships with China while allegations of ‘genocide’ and ‘cross-border repression’ against Uyghurs persist, it could undermine Canada’s own human rights commitments.
Concerns were also raised about some ‘confidential’ cooperation agreements between law enforcement agencies in Canada and China, including information sharing and assistance in investigations involving Chinese security agencies.
Citing critics, the organization highlighted the lack of transparency and parliamentary oversight in these agreements, which could pose risks to vulnerable communities.
Mehmet Tohti, URAP’s Executive Director, stated, “As long as Uyghurs are imprisoned, families are separated, and victims of repression seek justice, we cannot normalize relations with the Chinese government. Economic cooperation should never come at the expense of human rights.”
URAP also reiterated calls for attention to the case of Canadian citizen Hussein Celil, a Uyghur-Canadian who has been imprisoned in China since 2006. He was detained during a trip to Uzbekistan and subsequently handed over to China.
According to the organization, his family and supporters have long accused China of failing to recognize his Canadian citizenship and denying him proper consular assistance.
Tohti added, “Hussein Celil’s ongoing imprisonment serves as a reminder that when the government prioritizes diplomatic convenience over human rights, Canadian citizens are not safe.”
Additionally, URAP expressed concerns regarding the growing visa-free travel arrangement with China. They argue that fostering such closeness is inappropriate while China continues its oppression of Uyghurs, silencing dissent, and intimidating communities abroad.
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