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

B10‑0114/2024

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 its previous resolutions and reports on the situation in China,

– having regard to Article 4 and 36 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China,

– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

1. Whereas massive and structural violations of human rights against Uyghur persist, notably in Xinjiang ;
2. Whereas in May 2022 for the first time in 17 years, a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has been able to travel six days in China ; whereas OHCHR issued shortly after an assessment of human rights concerns in China’s Xinjiang following allegations of serious violations against Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim communities, in a context of the Chinese Government’s policies and measures to combat terrorism and extremism;

3. Whereas in 2022 the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) called on China to immediately investigate all allegations of human rights violations in Xinjiang;
4. Whereas on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, eight OHCHR Special Rapporteurs have warned against acts of harassment, intimidation, violence and incitement based on religion or belief that have risen to “alarming levels” across the world, including by State actors, in particular against Muslims;

1. Reiterates its call for the release Ilham Tohti, Gulshan Abbas and other Uighurs unjustly imprisoned;
2. Reiterates its call for unrestricted access to their family and the lawyers of their choice; 
3. Calls on the Chinese and local authorities to put an end to the repression of Uyghurs and recalls that the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region have been subjected to intense surveillance, forced labour, involuntary sterilisations and birth prevention measures, among other rights abuses, which may amount to crimes against humanity, as acknowledged in the 2022 OHCHR report;
4. Recalls that China has ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;
5. Calls on UN Human Rights office to promptly issue a comprehensive update on the current situation in Xinjiang;
6. Supports a resolution at the Human Rights Council to set up an independent international mechanism to monitor and investigate allegations of severe human rights violations, including potential crimes against humanity in Xinjiang ;
7. Praises the work of Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calling again on the authorities to undertake a full review of the legal framework governing national security and counter-terrorism;
8. Notes a worrying increase, around the world, including China, of the use of the fight against terrorism to repress populations or political opponents;
9. Calls for an impact assessment on the new regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market in view to remedy loopholes, notably on alternative trades to prevent supply chain disruption;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and to the Government and Parliament of the People’s Republic of China.