Written by Kanishka Singh
(Reuters) – The Canadian government condemned China on Tuesday for taking steps against two Canadian institutions and 20 people involved in human rights issues related to the Uyghurs and Tibet.
China announced these measures, which included an asset freeze and entry ban, on Sunday. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said its targets included the Canada-based Uyghur Rights Defense Project and the Canada-Tibet Committee.
“Global Affairs Canada expresses its solidarity with the members of the Canadian Tibet Commission and the Uyghur Rights Defense Project and condemns the Chinese government’s decision to punish them for speaking out on human rights,” the Canadian government said in a statement.
The Canadian statement urged China to respect its obligations under international law, while also urging Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution in China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
Human rights groups accuse Beijing of widespread abuses against the Uighurs, a Muslim ethnic minority with a population of about 10 million in the western Xinjiang region, including the mass use of forced labor in camps. Beijing denies any violations.
China took control of Tibet in 1950 in what it described as a “peaceful liberation” from feudal slavery. But international human rights groups and exiles have routinely condemned what they call China's oppressive rule in Tibetan regions.
“The Government of Canada will not tolerate any threats, acts of violence or harassment of people in Canada or their families and friends because of their political views or to silence opposing views,” the Canadian government said.
