HRW asks Australia to join Western sanctions on China for human rights violations in Xinjiang

Sep. 13 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The NGO Human Right Watch (HRW) has asked the Australian Government on Monday to join the sanctions imposed on China for its abuses and the alleged commission of crimes against humanity in the Xinjiang region by the European Union, the United States , UK or Canada.

“Australia should impose targeted sanctions against Chinese government officials who are implicated in crimes against humanity and other serious abuses against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang,” said Sophie Richardson, the NGO’s China director.

“The European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have already taken these steps, and Australia should join these efforts to hold accountable those responsible for these abuses and support the victims,” ​​Richardson stressed.

This request takes place almost two weeks after the United Nations published a report in which it pointed out the possible commission of crimes against humanity that Beijing would have committed against the Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region.

In its 48 pages, the UN report highlights the “credible” evidence of human rights violations that China would have carried out in Xinjiang against the minority of Muslim confession.

Specifically, such a report –which has been in preparation for three years– ensures that “serious violations of Human Rights” have been committed in the context of the application of anti-terrorist strategies and against “extremism” approved by the Government. Chinese in 2014.

For this reason, HRW has called on Australia to join the sanctions imposed by other Western countries, since the oceanic country would have avoided imposing them.

“The Australian Government should turn words into action to help Uyghurs and other oppressed communities in Xinjiang,” Richardson said.

“Australia should stand by a growing global coalition of nations that will not allow the Chinese government’s crimes against humanity to go unpunished,” he added.