Canadian Muslim Groups Lead Joint Initiative After OIC Rejects UN Uyghur Motion |
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January 2nd, 2023
A collective initiative led by Canadian Muslim groups and Mosques calls into question the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for rejecting a UN debate on the Chinese government’s inhumane treatment of Uyghur Muslims.
Over 70 diverse Canadian and global NGOs, Mosques and non-profit organizations endorsed a joint-letter condemning OIC member states for failing to uphold the fundamental human rights of Uyghurs experiencing genocide and ongoing crimes against humanity.
A copy of the letter, sent to 60 OIC members, has been published here.
“Uyghurs were relying on Muslim nations to be their voice. It’s a disappointing decision made by Muslim leadership with dire implications for the genocide and future of Uyghur rights under Chinese communist rule. The OIC failed their fellow Muslim sisters and brothers in humanity,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
In October 2022, OIC member states voted overwhelmingly against a critical UN motion to discuss crimes against humanity facing Uyghurs in East Turkestan (Xinjiang), producing a historic setback for accountability and justice for victims of genocide.
It was the first time a UN security council motion questioned China’s human rights record.
The UN’s proposal to debate Chinese state abuses arrived just as Uyghurs were banned from leaving the region under draconian COVID regulations, sparking a humanitarian crisis for Uyghur communities. Today, Uyghur families and children continue to experience a starvation crisis resulting from pervasive lockdowns across East Turkestan and other parts of China.
In November 2022, over 50 Uyghurs (including children) in Urumqi city were killed in a building fire after victims could not escape because they were physically prevented from accessing timely assistance.
In February 2021, Canada’s Parliament joined the US and UK in unanimously acknowledging the genocide, mass use of forced labour in internment camps and rampant detention centres employed by China’s government against Uyghur groups.
The joint letter appeals OIC member states to reflect on Islamic humanitarian principles of peace and justice and not succumb to Chinese state pressure.
Somalia was the only OIC state to vote in favour of the motion, standing against systemic discrimination, genocide and Islamophobia facing Uyghurs.
A collective initiative led by Canadian Muslim groups and Mosques calls into question the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for rejecting a UN debate on the Chinese government’s inhumane treatment of Uyghur Muslims.
Over 70 diverse Canadian and global NGOs, Mosques and non-profit organizations endorsed a joint-letter condemning OIC member states for failing to uphold the fundamental human rights of Uyghurs experiencing genocide and ongoing crimes against humanity.
A copy of the letter, sent to 60 OIC members, has been published here.
“Uyghurs were relying on Muslim nations to be their voice. It’s a disappointing decision made by Muslim leadership with dire implications for the genocide and future of Uyghur rights under Chinese communist rule. The OIC failed their fellow Muslim sisters and brothers in humanity,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada.
In October 2022, OIC member states voted overwhelmingly against a critical UN motion to discuss crimes against humanity facing Uyghurs in East Turkestan (Xinjiang), producing a historic setback for accountability and justice for victims of genocide.
It was the first time a UN security council motion questioned China’s human rights record.
The UN’s proposal to debate Chinese state abuses arrived just as Uyghurs were banned from leaving the region under draconian COVID regulations, sparking a humanitarian crisis for Uyghur communities. Today, Uyghur families and children continue to experience a starvation crisis resulting from pervasive lockdowns across East Turkestan and other parts of China.
In November 2022, over 50 Uyghurs (including children) in Urumqi city were killed in a building fire after victims could not escape because they were physically prevented from accessing timely assistance.
In February 2021, Canada’s Parliament joined the US and UK in unanimously acknowledging the genocide, mass use of forced labour in internment camps and rampant detention centres employed by China’s government against Uyghur groups.
The joint letter appeals OIC member states to reflect on Islamic humanitarian principles of peace and justice and not succumb to Chinese state pressure.
Somalia was the only OIC state to vote in favour of the motion, standing against systemic discrimination, genocide and Islamophobia facing Uyghurs.