Resolution on mass arbitrary detention of Uyghurs and Kazakhs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on mass arbitrary detention of Uyghurs and Kazakhs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
The resolution was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, Greens/EFA, and EFDD groups.
Parliament called on the Chinese Government to end the mass arbitrary detention of members of the Uyghur and Kazakh minorities, to close all camps and detention centres and to release detained persons immediately and unconditionally. It noted that the situation in Xinjiang, which is home to around 11 million Uyghurs and ethnic Kazakhs, has rapidly deteriorated in recent years, as absolute control of Xinjiang has been elevated to a top priority, while further challenges are posed by periodic terrorist attacks allegedly connected to Xinjiang, by Uyghurs. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has reported that upwards of a million Uighurs may be being detained in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), without being charged or tried, under the pretext of countering terrorism and religious extremism. Members called on the Chinese authorities to allow free, unhindered access for journalists and international observers to Xinjiang province.
Reminding China of its human rights obligations, Parliament urged the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Member States to monitor intensely the changing human rights developments in Xinjiang, including the increased government repression of Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other ethnic minorities, and to send a strong message to the highest level of the Chinese Government to end the grotesque human rights violations. In this context, Members recalled the EU’s commitment to project a strong, clear and unified voice in its approach to China, including at the yearly Human Rights Dialogue and the upcoming Euro-Asia Summit.
Furthermore, Parliament expressed its deep concern regarding the reports of harassment of Uyghurs abroad by the Chinese authorities aiming to compel them to act as informants against other Uyghurs, or return to Xinjiang. It welcomed the decision taken by Germany and Sweden to suspend the return of all ethnic Uyghurs, Kazakhs or other Turkic Muslims to China in consideration of the risk of arbitrary detention, torture or other ill-treatment they would face in the country. All Member States were asked to expedite asylum claims by Turkic Muslims at risk of being forcibly returned to China and to investigate the Chinese Government’s intimidation of Turkic Muslim diaspora communities in Europe.
Lastly, Parliament expressed concern about China’s implementation of measures to ensure the comprehensive supervision of Xinjiang through, inter alia, the installation of China’s ‘Skynet’ electronic surveillance system, the use of facial recognition scanners at checkpoints, and the blood-collecting activities of Xinjiang’s police force to further expand China’s DNA database. This compulsory mass collection of citizens’ data primarily targets Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other ethnic minorities, in violation of the prohibition of discrimination under international law.