Justice For All Canada Welcomes Canada’s Appointment of Mr. Jamal Khokhar to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
January 6th, 2021
Justice For All Canada welcomes Canada’s decision to appoint a special envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). We are pleased to learn that Jamal Khokhar, Canada’s Ambassador to Turkey, has been selected for this position.
Mr. Khokhar’s concurrent role as OIC Special Envoy and Ambassador to Turkey--a country with tremendous humanitarian achievements—makes him an excellent choice to represent Canada’s human rights objectives and obligations towards vulnerable minorities around the world. With a long-standing background in international affairs and economics, we look forward to the critical contributions Mr. Khokhar will bring to the OIC on behalf of Canada.
Being Canada’s third special envoy to the OIC with diplomatic ties to Turkey, this appointment highlights an opportunity to analyze China’s recent ratification of an extradition treaty with Turkey. This move potentially risks the lives of thousands of Uighurs and Turkic ethnic minorities living in Turkey.
The Uighur diaspora out of China has resulted in a considerable Uighur refugee community in Istanbul. Should Ankara move forward with ratifying this extradition treaty, over 50,000 Uighurs in Turkey will be at serious risk of persecution.
As part of its evolving human rights discussions, the OIC must consider that China has already pursued an aggressive campaign to sign extradition treaties with 81 countries to promote foreign judicial assistance in recent years.
“In addition to Turkey, China’s attempts to weaken international human rights norms affects thousands of individuals around the world, and especially Uighur Muslims, placing them at serious risk of abuse and persecution should they face extradition to China,” warns Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice All Canada. “Canada’s new OIC special envoy is well-positioned to raise these concerns with OIC member states and with our Federal Government,” added Ghayyur.
We implore the OIC to add the issue of Uighurs to its existing agenda of defending global Muslims experiencing persecution and discrimination. It’s concerning that the OIC’s 57-member body has not expressed alarm over China’s mass imprisonment of Uighurs, nor has it acknowledged the ongoing genocide of this population.
Justice For All Canada looks forward to supporting the advancement of Canada’s human rights obligations in the OIC. We also hope to support Mr. Khokhar in ending the unacceptable human rights violations, such as genocide and forced labour, in the Uighur region. As human rights advocates committed to the stability and peace of Uighurs and Turkic minorities in East Turkestan, Canada and the OIC have a momentous opportunity to act upon shared priorities of good governance, human rights, and the equality and empowerment of refugees.
Justice For All Canada is a Toronto-based nonprofit, non-governmental organization challenging the persecution and discrimination of religious and ethnic minorities around the world.
1. https://hongkongfp.com/2021/01/06/turkey-should-tell-china-no-new-extradition-treaty/
2. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/china-turkey-extradition-treaty-implications-uyghurs/
Justice For All Canada welcomes Canada’s decision to appoint a special envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). We are pleased to learn that Jamal Khokhar, Canada’s Ambassador to Turkey, has been selected for this position.
Mr. Khokhar’s concurrent role as OIC Special Envoy and Ambassador to Turkey--a country with tremendous humanitarian achievements—makes him an excellent choice to represent Canada’s human rights objectives and obligations towards vulnerable minorities around the world. With a long-standing background in international affairs and economics, we look forward to the critical contributions Mr. Khokhar will bring to the OIC on behalf of Canada.
Being Canada’s third special envoy to the OIC with diplomatic ties to Turkey, this appointment highlights an opportunity to analyze China’s recent ratification of an extradition treaty with Turkey. This move potentially risks the lives of thousands of Uighurs and Turkic ethnic minorities living in Turkey.
The Uighur diaspora out of China has resulted in a considerable Uighur refugee community in Istanbul. Should Ankara move forward with ratifying this extradition treaty, over 50,000 Uighurs in Turkey will be at serious risk of persecution.
As part of its evolving human rights discussions, the OIC must consider that China has already pursued an aggressive campaign to sign extradition treaties with 81 countries to promote foreign judicial assistance in recent years.
“In addition to Turkey, China’s attempts to weaken international human rights norms affects thousands of individuals around the world, and especially Uighur Muslims, placing them at serious risk of abuse and persecution should they face extradition to China,” warns Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice All Canada. “Canada’s new OIC special envoy is well-positioned to raise these concerns with OIC member states and with our Federal Government,” added Ghayyur.
We implore the OIC to add the issue of Uighurs to its existing agenda of defending global Muslims experiencing persecution and discrimination. It’s concerning that the OIC’s 57-member body has not expressed alarm over China’s mass imprisonment of Uighurs, nor has it acknowledged the ongoing genocide of this population.
Justice For All Canada looks forward to supporting the advancement of Canada’s human rights obligations in the OIC. We also hope to support Mr. Khokhar in ending the unacceptable human rights violations, such as genocide and forced labour, in the Uighur region. As human rights advocates committed to the stability and peace of Uighurs and Turkic minorities in East Turkestan, Canada and the OIC have a momentous opportunity to act upon shared priorities of good governance, human rights, and the equality and empowerment of refugees.
Justice For All Canada is a Toronto-based nonprofit, non-governmental organization challenging the persecution and discrimination of religious and ethnic minorities around the world.
1. https://hongkongfp.com/2021/01/06/turkey-should-tell-china-no-new-extradition-treaty/
2. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/china-turkey-extradition-treaty-implications-uyghurs/