![Supporters of the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement rally in front of the British Embassy ahead of an April 22 vote in the British House of Commons on whether or not to declare that a genocide is underway in Xinjiang province and Chinas treatment of the Uyghur Muslims on April 16, 2021 in Washington, DC. [Drew Angerer/Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GettyImages-1232342757.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The UK House of Commons yesterday declared for the first time that genocide is taking place against Uyghurs and others in north-west China.
“Today in Parliament, I raised the gross human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims in China. Whilst this Gvt refuses to take action & continues to put trade above human rights- I refuse to remain silent. Genocide is taking place on our watch- we have a duty to end it,” MP and Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, Afzal Khan, said on Twitter.
Today in Parliament, I raised the gross human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims in China.
Whilst this Gvt refuses to take action & continues to put trade above human rights- I refuse to remain silent.
Genocide is taking place on our watch- we have a duty to end it👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/F2Lj9zXare
— Afzal Khan MP (@Afzal4Gorton) April 22, 2021
Meanwhile, Nusrat Ghani said: “Parliament has passed an unopposed motion declaring genocide…. In making this declaration, the UK Parliament is joining the Parliaments of Canada, Netherlands and the United States Government.”
Result!
My motion on Uyghur Genocide at the hands of CCP, after a 3 hr debate was unanimously backed by the UK @HouseofCommons
Grateful to colleagues, campaigners and brave Uyghur survivors. @ipacglobal pic.twitter.com/Pc2fcblzg4— Nus Ghani MP (@Nus_Ghani) April 22, 2021
“The UK Parliament has assessed the evidence and spoken of the industrial scale human rights abuses being perpetrated by the Chinese Government in what is the largest mass incarceration of a minority since the Second World War.”
“We cannot stand idly by while these horrific abuses continue,” she added.
“The UK parliament unanimously declares China to be perpetrating genocide. This is an historic move. We thank the House of Commons for making the right decision.”
The UK parliament unanimously declares China to be perpetrating genocide.
This is an historic move. We thank the House of Commons for making the right decision. pic.twitter.com/yDYuaztjX4
— Stop Uyghur Genocide (@UyghurStop) April 22, 2021
In response to the vote, the Chinese Embassy in the UK said the Britain should “immediately right its wrong moves” by publishing a statement.
Embassy Spokesperson's Remarks on the Passing of a so-called Motion on Xinjiang-related Issues at the House of Commons of the UKhttps://t.co/fRmT0FxTo1 pic.twitter.com/VdsSTe0ViP
— Chinese Embassy in UK (@ChineseEmbinUK) April 22, 2021
In March, the US-based think tank the Newline Institute for Strategy and Policy said in a report that China bears responsibility for breaches of the Genocide Convention as a result of its treatment of Uyghur Muslims.
READ: Women are paying a high price in China’s Uyghur genocide
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