441-00757 (Foreign affairs)

We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:

Whereas:

Although Canadians Micheal Spavor and Micheal Korvig have recently been released after 1000 days of unjust detention in China, there are at least 115 Canadians still being detained in China including Huseyin Celil who has been detained for over 5000 days;

Huseyin Celil is a Canadian Uyghur human rights activist who is detained in China for supporting the political and religious rights of Uyghurs;

Huseyin Celil is a Canadian citizen, who escaped China into Uzbekistan after being unjustly jailed for 48 days in 2001 and on recognition from the United Nations as a refugee, migrated to Canada and obtained Canadian citizenship and gave up his Chinese citizenship;

The Chinese government has refused to accept Huseyin Celil's Canadian citizenship, and denied access to lawyers, family and Canadian officials, while he was coerced into signing a confession and underwent an unlawful and unfair trial;

Evidence now makes clear that the Chinese Government's treatment of the Uyghurs meets most, if not all, of the criteria for genocide as outlined in the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; and

Canada cannot remain silent in the face of the unjust suffering of a Canadian citizen.

Therefore we, the undersigned citizens of Canada, call on the Government of Canada to take the following actions to address the situation:

1. Demand that the Chinese government recognize Huseyin Celil's Canadian citizenship and provide him with consular and legal services in accordance with international law;

2. Formally state that the release of Huseyin Celil from Chinese detainment and his return to Canada is a priority of the Canadian government of equal concern as the unjust detentions of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor;

3. Appoint a special envoy to work on securing Mr. Celil's release; and

4. Seek assistance of the Biden Administration and other allies around the world in obtaining Mr. Celil's release.