* Photo: Dutch Parliament (from the Parliament's website)
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The Parliament of the Netherlands passed a non-binding motion on February 25 saying that the treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority in China amounts to genocide, which marks a first in Europe.
As reported by CNN International, the motion has said, "A genocide on the Uyghur minority is occurring in China," without directly saying that the government of China is responsible for the related acts.
The motion has noted that actions by the government of China such as "measures intended to prevent births" and "having punishment camps" fell under UN Resolution 260, known as the genocide convention.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte's conservative People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) voted against the resolution.
Canada passed a non-binding resolution labeling China's treatment of the Uyghurs genocide earlier this week.
About the treatment of Uyghurs by ChinaAmnesty International summarizes the treatment of Uyghurs in China, especially in the context of internment camps, as follows: "It has been nearly three years since China launched an unprecedented campaign of mass detention of Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang). "During this time, details about the treatment of the estimated 1 million or more people who have been held in 'transformation-through-education' or 'vocational training' centres have continued to trickle out. But the true scope and nature of what is taking place in Xinjiang remains obscured. "The Chinese government originally denied the existence of the detention camps. Later, it began claiming that the facilities were 'vocational training' centres to help rid Uyghurs and others of their 'extremist' thoughts and provide them with job training – even highly educated intellectuals, businesspeople and retirees. "The Chinese government has steadfastly resisted calls to admit independent monitors into the region, allowing only carefully stage-managed tours for select journalists and diplomats. Meanwhile, friends and relatives of people believed to be detained remain cut off from information and unsure where their loved ones are." |
The violations of rights committed in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwest China were brought to Turkey's Parliamentary agenda during the 2020 Central Administration Budget talks.
The Parliamentary inquiry of the party briefly read:
"Uyghur Turks are held in places of isolation and pressure called 'reeducation camps' for 'struggle against terrorism' by the Chinese government, they are subjected to detention, torture and ill treatment.
"While several international organizations and states are expressing their objections loudly, the government in Turkey, unfortunately, avoids expressing the issue and do not respond to the regrettable developments."
In October 2018, İYİ Party submitted another Parliamentary inquiry about China's actions in East Turkestan. This motion was also rejected. (PT/SD)