China sanctions Canadian institutions active on Uyghurs, Tibet

China said it was taking countermeasures against two Canadian institutions and 20 individuals involved in human rights issues concerning the Uyghurs and Tibet.

China has sanctioned two Canadian organizations and 20 individuals in retaliation for Canada’s recent sanctions on Chinese officials over alleged human rights violations, Beijing announced on December 21, 2024.

The sanctions target the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP), the Canada Tibet Committee, and 20 individuals associated with the organizations, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Beijing froze all assets and transactions of the two organizations and barred locals from engaging with them. The 20 individuals have been banned from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macau.

“a badge of honor” served as a motivational

URAP, targeted by this sanction, has been conducting effective work under the leadership of Mehmet Tohti to raise awareness among the Canadian public about China’s genocide and forced labor policies against the Uyghurs and to advocate for Uyghur rights. URAP has also carried out advocacy efforts to pave the way for the resettlement of 10,000 Uyghur refugees from high-risk regions to Canada, contributing to the enactment of related legal measures. The fact that URAP is the target of this sanction is a clear indication of the global impact of its effective work.

Speaking to RFA on the matter, Tohti stated that the Chinese government’s sanctioning of the group and 15 individuals, including himself, was “a badge of honor” that served as a motivational force for them to continue their work.

SANCTIONS ARE RETALIATORY

China’s sanctions are retaliatory in nature, responding to similar measures taken by the Canadian government.

The decision comes after Canada imposed sanctions on eight Chinese former and current officials earlier this month over alleged genocide and human rights violations in East Turkistan and Tibet. Announcing the sanctions, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that the sanctions were in response to “Chinese government-led repression of ethnic and religious minorities in China, including in Xinjiang, Tibet and against those who practice Falun Gong.”