BARRHEAD – Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen was recently recognized for his efforts in support of the Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims that have fled the persecution and attempted extermination of their people in China.
Viersen, who has served as the vice chair of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights since January 2022, was presented with an award in a Feb. 1 ceremony by the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP).
The glass trophy states that it was being given to Viersen “in recognition of your contribution in supporting the resettlement of Uyghur refugees fleeing from the ongoing genocide perpetrated by China. Your leadership is to be remembered for generations to come.”
According to their website, URAP is the “leading voice for Uyghur policy and advocacy in Canada” and works to promote the rights of the Uyghur people through parliamentary action, legal advocacy, academic research projects, support for refugees and awareness campaigns.
For several years now, the Chinese government has detained more than a million Turkic Muslims in re-education camps. Most of those detained are the Uyghurs, a predominantly Turkic-speaking ethnic group based in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
It has been estimated to be the largest-scale detention of ethnic and religious minorities since the Second World War.
In addition to the detentions, the Uyghurs have been subjected to intense surveillance, made to perform manual labour, and subjected to forced sterilizations and torture.
Viersen’s award stems at least in part from his support of Motion M-62, which was originally put forward by Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi, to recognize the forced labour, torture and other atrocities facing the Uyghur and Turkic Muslims in China. It furthermore calls on the Government of Canada to help resettle 10,000 Uyghur refugees by 2024.
Viersen was the first MP to add his name in support of Motion M-62, which ultimately passed 322-0.
“Human rights come from the fact that we are created in the image of God and we must ensure they are protected and upheld,” said Viersen, in a release.
“In many countries, Christians, Sikhs, Jews and Muslims are targeted for persecution and even death. Canada has a responsibility to uphold the right to freedom of religion we so strongly hold and assist those seeking freedom and safety.”
It is worth noting that, prior to its passage, URAP had called on MPs to vote in favour of Motion M-62. A number of representatives from the organization were on hand to observe the final debate on the motion.
The release from Viersen’s office further notes that Motion M-62 followed a Conservative motion introduced to the House of Commons in 2021 that called on the Liberal government to recognize the actions of China towards the Uyghurs as a genocide.
However, the Liberal government has been reluctant to criticize the Communist Chinese government, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet notably abstaining from voting on the 2021 motion.
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