MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas.

B10‑0101/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas.

(2024/2857(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to Rules 150 of its Rules of Procedure;

A. whereas the UN attested that the serious and systemic human rights violations against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang may amount to crimes against humanity;

B. whereas on 23 September 2014, Uyghur economist and human rights activist Ilham Tohti was sentenced to life due to his work to foster dialogue and understanding between Uyghurs and Han Chinese; whereas his imprisonment marked the start of the “Strike Hard Campaign against Violent Terrorism” in Xinjiang; whereas he was awarded the European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2019;

C. whereas Gulshan Abbas went missing in 2018; whereas there were credible indications she had been sentenced to 20 years in prison in a secret trial, most likely in retaliation for the human rights advocacy conducted by her sister, Rushan Abbas, on behalf of the Uyghurs;

1. Urges the PRC to immediately and unconditionally release Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas, and to stop harassing their families; urges the PRC to respect and restore families’ rights to visit detainees, including virtual communication;

2. Urges the PRC to cease the brutal repression in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, and to release all arbitrarily detained activists, among others, Ekpar Asat, Rahile Dawut, Jimmy Lai, Chow Hang-tung, Anya Sengdra,  Chadrel Rinpoche, Chen Yunfei, Ding Jiaxi, Ding Yuande, Gao Zhisheng, Go Sherab Gyatso, Golog Palden, He Fangmei, Huang Qi, Huang Xueqin, Hushtar Isa, Yalkun Isa, Li Yanhe, Peng Lifa, Qin Yongming, Qin Yongpei, Ruan Xiaohuan, Semkyi Dolma, Tashi Dorje, Tashpolat Tiyip, Wang Bingzhang, Wang Jianbing, Pastor Wang Yi, Kamile Wayit, Xu Na, Xu Qin, Xu Yan, Xu Zhiyong, Yang Henjung, Yang Maodong, Yu Wensheng, and Pastor Zhang Chunlei and Zhang Zhan;

3. Condemns the extraterritorial repression against Chinese dissidents or the Uyghur community abroad; calls on the Member States to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC;

4. Stresses that, in March 2021, the EU adopted human rights sanctions against Chinese officials and entities responsible for the violations against Uyghurs; recalls that China immediately and unjustifiably sanctioned 5 MEPs, the DROI subcommittee, national MPs and prominent think tanks among others, and that those sanctions are still in place;

5. Stresses that the continuous and serious deterioration of human rights in China will have consequences for the bilateral EU-China relations; expresses strong disappointment about the latest EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, the fact that the EU did not demand information on Tohti’s health conditions as a pre-condition;

6. Welcomes the adoption of a forced labour import ban by the EU and insists on the allocation of adequate financing for its implementation; is alarmed at the increase of exports from Xinjiang to the EU by 140% this year; condemns the unfounded claims by Volkswagen that its Xinjiang factories are forced-labour-free and that the audit failed to meet international standards;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HR/VP, the PRC and the UN.