MEPs demand release of Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas amid condemnation of abuses in China
Context
MEPs addressed human rights concerns in China, explicitly condemning violations against Uyghurs and people in Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China, and calling for the release of those arbitrarily detained. The text identifies Ilham Tohti as the 2019 Sakharov Prize laureate.
Key Topic
The resolution demands immediate release of Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas, calls for closure of all internment camps, and denounces intense surveillance, forced labour, sterilisation, birth prevention measures and the destruction of Uyghur identity as amounting to crimes against humanity and a serious risk of genocide. MEPs welcomed the EU forced labour regulation and urged businesses operating in China to comply with human rights due diligence obligations.
What to Watch
The resolution was adopted on 10 October 2024 by 540 votes for, 23 against, and 47 abstentions.
Sources
Official Documents
- General documents - The cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas (10 October 2024) - Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning China’s treatment of Uyghurs and urged compliance with EU forced-labour due diligence rules, highlighting supply-chain risks for EU businesses.
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