Rights center urges pressure on China as Canadian Uyghur detained since 2006 remains denied consular access and contact with family
Muslim Network TV — March 26, 2026
OTTAWA, Canada (MNTV) — A leading human rights organization has urged Canada to exert pressure on China to secure the release of a Canadian Uyghur activist detained for two decades, as concerns grow over Beijing’s treatment of Uyghurs and Ottawa’s responsibility to protect citizens abroad.
The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights on Thursday marked 20 years since Huseyin Celil, a Canadian citizen and Uyghur advocate, was detained and later transferred to Chinese authorities after being arrested in Uzbekistan in March 2006.
According to the Canada-based rights organization, Celil was visiting family in Uzbekistan when he was detained and subsequently handed over to China, where he was later convicted on what advocates describe as politically motivated terrorism charges following a trial widely criticized by Canadian officials.
The organization said China has refused to recognize Celil’s Canadian citizenship and has denied him consular access for two decades. His family in East Turkistan has reportedly not heard from him since 2014, while his relatives in Canada have not been allowed to communicate with him since his arrest.
The case has become a long-running diplomatic issue between Ottawa and Beijing, raising broader questions about Canada’s ability to protect citizens detained abroad, particularly in politically sensitive cases involving China.
Rights advocates say Celil, originally from East Turkistan, was known for peaceful advocacy focused on religious, cultural, and linguistic rights of Uyghurs. His continued detention, they argue, represents a serious violation of international human rights standards.
The center also linked the case to broader concerns over China’s policies in East Turkistan, where rights groups and Western governments have documented mass detention, surveillance, and restrictions targeting Uyghur Muslims. The organization cited findings from its 2022 report, which concluded that abuses against Uyghurs could constitute violations of the 1948 Genocide Convention.
The appeal comes as Canada explores efforts to stabilize diplomatic and trade relations with China, with the organization urging Canadian leaders to use any renewed engagement to push for Celil’s release.
Advocates argue that the case reflects broader challenges faced by governments seeking to secure the release of citizens detained abroad, particularly when geopolitical tensions and economic interests complicate diplomatic efforts.
After two decades, rights groups say the continued detention of Celil remains both a personal tragedy for his family and a test of Canada’s willingness to defend citizens and address alleged human rights abuses.
