Petition

Thank you for your support!

We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: 

Whereas, although Canadians Micheal Spavor and Micheal Korvig have recently been released after 1000 days of unjust detention in China, there are at least 115  Canadians still being detained in China including Huseyin Celil who has been detained for over 5000 days; and, 

Whereas Huseyin Celil is a Canadian Uyghur human rights activist who is detained in China for supporting the political and religious rights of Uyghurs; and, 

Whereas Huseyin Celil is a Canadian citizen, who escaped China into Uzbekistan after being unjustly jailed for 48 days in 2001 and on recognition from the United  Nations as a refugee, migrated to Canada and obtained Canadian citizenship and gave up his Chinese citizenship.  

Whereas the Chinese government has refused to accept Huseyin Celil’s Canadian citizenship, and denied access to lawyers, family and Canadian officials, while he  was coerced into signing a confession and underwent an unlawful and unfair trial; and,  

Whereas evidence now makes clear that the Chinese Government’s treatment of the Uyghurs meets most, if not all, of the criteria for genocide as outlined in the UN  Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; and, 

Whereas Canada cannot remain silent in the face of the unjust suffering of a Canadian citizen; 

Therefore we, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to take the following actions to address the situation: 

1. Demand that the Chinese government recognize Huseyin Celil’s Canadian citizenship and provide him with consular and legal services in accordance with  international law. 
2. Formally state that the release of Huseyin Celil from Chinese detainment and his return to Canada is a priority of the Canadian government of equal concern  as the unjust detentions of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. 
3. Appoint a special envoy to work on securing Mr. Celil’s release. 
4. Seek assistance of the Biden Administration and other allies around the world in obtaining Mr. Celil’s release.

1. Print the petition (see link below)
2. Each signatory must handwrite his or her name directly on the petition.
3. When filling in your address, *POSTAL CODE IS REQUIRED*
4. Additional contact information, such as telephone numbers or email addresses, is not required.
5. Place all the sheets you have filled in an envelope.
6. Mail it to:
   
   MP Garnett Genuis
   House of Commons
   Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
   K1A 0A6
7. No postage stamp is required