Ontario Uighur Muslims call for more action following Canada's genocide vote

TheHouse of Commons' votedeclaring China'streatment of the Uighursa genocidehas drawnmixed reaction from two Ontario Uighur Muslimswho know of loved ones affectedby China's actions.

While they appreciate the acknowledgement, they feelCanada needs to take action against China and hold it accountable for itspersecution of Uighurs andother Turkic Muslims in theXinjiang region.

The vote took place on Monday and 266 MPs voted in favourand zeroopposed. Two MPsformally abstained.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and most of his cabinet colleagues were absent for the vote.Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneauwas the only cabinet minister present. When it was his turn, he said he abstained "on behalf of the Government of Canada."

Anwar Abdurahman, aUighur resident of London, Ont.,found this disappointing.

"I feel mixed feelings about it. First of all, I am glad all the MPs stood up against the pressure from China, but at the same time, I'm disappointed with our prime minister and cabinet ministers because they decided to abstain," he said,adding that he wished Canada would take action to stop the genocide instead of debatingwhether it should be deemed as one.

Ontario Uighur woman talks about what it means to her to see Canada recognizing China's treatement of Uighurs a genocide

4 years ago

Duration 0:34

Rukiye Turdush, who lives in St. Catharines, Ont., and is an alumna of the University of Windsor, said she feels supported but agrees that more needs to be done.

"At least this is a huge step ahead I guess, given the pressure of the Chinese government," he continued.

Rukiye Turdush, who lives inSt. Catharines, Ont., and is an alumna of the University of Windsor, said she feels supported but agrees that more needs to be done.

"I can't say we feel so happy, but we feel satisfied and we feel recognition and we feel that justice is done with us. We feel that we are not alone," she said.

"Just saying the word genocide cannot stop the genocide," she continued. "But this is a very important step. It's a starting point."

Turdushand Abdurahman urge the Canadian government to imposeMagnitsky Act sanctions on Chinese officialsin response to human rights violations by the regime.

"If they don't stop the genocide, they have to pay a price. They have to know that. Theyhave to let them know the consequences. I think economic sanction and using the Magnitsky Act, punishing the Chinese officials who is implementing [the] genocide,"Turdushsaid, adding that the country should boycott Chinese products and push to relocate next year's Olympicgames.

Abdurahmansaid he wants Canada to work with other Western allies and take charge so other countries follow suit.

"Give more pressure on China to stop these kind of atrocities," Abdurahman said. "Theyshould be [held] accountable and they should be punished. They should be brought to the International Criminal Court."

According to Amnesty International, an estimated one million or more people have been detained in Chinese detention campssomething the Chinese government calls "re-education camps" since 2017 where they have "endured a litany of human rights violations."

'You don't know if they're alive or dead'

Turdushand Abdurahmanboth believe they havefamily and friends thatare detained.

Turdush said she had more than 30 cousins that she knows of who've been arrested. Those that have been released, she said, are afraid to speak out.

Abdurahman said it feels "disturbing" not having closure over his loved ones.

"I feel like even if you know someone passed away, that you will think, 'OK, he passed away, so rest in peace,'but [it's the]most disturbing [when] you don't know someone you love ... [is] still alive or if they're still in the camp. If they're alive or dead," he said.

Label brings hope to community, says Turdush

While they hope some change will come of the vote,Turdushsaid the label brings her and other Uighurs hope during a time where they feel helpless.

"I feel like we're not alone in this world. For the first time that I feel in my country,in Canada, I feel like I'm not alone in this world," she said.

"There is [an] ongoing genocide andthese peoplealready almost lost hope. So this message is giving themhope and they feel that they are not alone. And still that justice exists in this world."