Uyghur Activists Call on Canada to Address China’s Human Rights Abuses in Xinjiang

May 29, 2026

Ottawa: As Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Canada for high-level talks, a leading Uyghur advocacy group has urged the Canadian government to confront China over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang and avoid a diplomatic reset without accountability.

Call to Raise Uyghur Detentions and Forced Labour Issue

The Canada-based Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP) urged Prime Minister Mark Carney and Foreign Minister Anita Anand to raise concerns over mass detention, surveillance of Uyghurs in East Turkistan (Xinjiang), forced labor practices, and alleged transnational repression during discussions with the Chinese delegation.

Concerns Over Canada-China Agreements and Transparency

The group also expressed concern over undisclosed law enforcement cooperation agreements between Canada and China, including RCMP memoranda of understanding involving information sharing and coordination with Chinese authorities, warning that such arrangements lack transparency and parliamentary oversight.

URAP Executive Director Mehmet Tohti said Canada should not normalize relations with China while Uyghurs face detention and families remain separated, stressing that economic cooperation should not come at the cost of human rights commitments.

Case of Canadian Citizen Huseyin Celil Highlighted

The group also highlighted the long-standing imprisonment of Canadian citizen Huseyin Celil in China since 2006, calling it a reminder of the risks faced when diplomatic priorities overshadow human rights concerns, and urged stronger safeguards in future engagement with Beijing.