'Millions in camps, abortions, genocide': EU asks UN to probe China's Xinjiang atrocities

Members of Parliament with European Union (MEPs) led calls for European Union (EU) to demand a detailed United Nations-led investigation into alleged human rights abuses and conducts against Uighur Muslims in China's Xinjiang province. 

A UN commission likely to be set up to study alleged crimes committed by current Xi Jinping government and investigated accordingly. EU called on member states to consider imposing a Global Human Rights Sanctions Mechanism against Chinese government officials found to be guilty of involvement.

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This move on part of European Union is not only symbolic but also signals a powerful message in Europe as well as rest of world about not letting China carry on its abuse of power and crimes against humanity. This comes at a time when China is particularly vulnerable as several countries have actively called out dragon's malicious acts and intent.

In letter MEPs wrote to High Representative of European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy as well as Vice-President of Commission Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles, it was stated that discriminatory laws such as State-ordered birth prevention (one-child policy) and continuous dehumanising treatment of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang are a matter of grave concern to members and as such dire human rights situation should be investigated, especially in case of Xinjiang and Hong Kong, with implementation of  new Security Law.

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letter detailed several atrocities uncovered through investigations and explained that 80,000 Uighurs have been subjected to deportation and forced labour in "special" camps. suffering of minorities in Xinjiang included political and religious indoctrination, destruction of holy sites and or places of worship. "Arbitrary arrests", frequent disappearance and torture were all named in list of crimes committed against 2 million Uighurs currently being held in internment camps. 

letter mentioned that in a study published by China expert Dr rian Zenz, at end of June 2020, 'A new invasive strategy by Communist Party to reduce Muslim population throughout region was introduced. It dealt with sterilizations, forced abortions and mandatory birth control.'

Drawing on new evidence that has emerged, Dr Zenz was quoted in letter to have said CPC's government-induced targeted birth prevention, forced abortions, intrauterine injections and sterilizations paired with widespre mass arrests and surveillance programs continue unperturbed. Natural birth rates in region have dramatically declined in various districts due to pogrom between 2015-2020.

MEPs noted that Chinese government's action against minorities cannot be judged as single acts as birth prevention, with intention to destroy population among specific ethnoreligious groups is nothing short of genocide. And as such, actions should be judged according to UN Convention on Prevention and Punishment of Crime of Genocide.

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Image credit: Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China

letter was shared on Twitter by IPAC (Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China), an international cross-party group of legislators working to reform democracy and its approach in China.

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