Press Release – For Immediate Release
22 December 2024
World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) is appalled by the Chinese government’s decision to impose sanctions on the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP), led by Mr. Mehmet Tohti—a former WUC Director of the Legal Committee—and 14 of its staff members and experts.
The Chinese government has also sanctioned the Chair of the Canada Tibet Committee, Samphe Lhalungpa, along with four other members.
“This is a typical move by the Chinese Communist Party, engaging in tit-for-tat sanctions. However, their actions are purely retaliatory,” said WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun. “These sanctions demonstrate that the work of URAP is making a meaningful impact.”
The sanctions were announced in the Global Times, a Chinese state-run propaganda outlet, on December 22, 2024. This act follows the recent decision by Global Affairs Canada to sanction eight current and former Chinese government officials, including Chen Quanguo, Erkin Tuniyaz, Shohret Zakir, Peng Jiarui, and Wu Yingjie, for their roles in implementing the Uyghur genocide policies in East Turkistan.
The Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project is at the forefront of efforts to resettle 10,000 Uyghur refugees from high-risk countries. China’s far-reaching influence has resulted in over 300 deportation cases over the years, making this initiative crucial for protecting Uyghur rights. Despite facing significant challenges and attempts to undermine the project, URAP has made tangible progress. Earlier this month, URAP Executive Director Mr. Mehmet Tohti, alongside MP Sameer Zuberi—who introduced the M-62 motion in the House of Commons—announced the arrival of the first Uyghur refugee in Canada.
In addition to its resettlement campaign, URAP has been a leading voice against Uyghur forced labor in Canada, advocating for the adoption of robust legislation to combat this issue.
These sanctions targeting two organizations actively advocating for Uyghur and Tibetan rights in Canada are clearly retaliatory. They aim to intimidate human rights defenders from these persecuted communities into silence.
The WUC strongly condemns all acts of transnational repression by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which seeks to silence human rights advocates, particularly those defending persecuted communities. The WUC stands in full solidarity with the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and the Canada Tibet Committee.
The WUC calls on the international community to take a firm stance against transnational repression and implement meaningful measures to address this issue while protecting at risk communities, particularly those under the colonial regime of the CCP.
The WUC also urges the Canadian government to take action to safeguard these organizations and individuals who are lawfully operating in Canada.
