The Liberal Democrats have passed a motion at their party conference that calls for sanctions on Chinese officials and a boycott of the Winter Olympics.
The motion also calls for family reunification of those forced into “re-education” camps and calls on the Foreign Secretary to grant asylum to Uyghurs fleeing persecution.
Liberal Democrats have consistently called on the UK Government to take urgent action against those perpetrating these atrocities, including the use of Magnitsky sanctions.
Ahead of the vote at their party conference Lib Dem Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran has written to every UK Government Minister urging them to back a boycott of the Winter Olympic games due to happen in February 2022.
In the letter, Layla says, “The accounts of what is taking place in Xinjiang are horrifying, and include the use of sterilisation, forced detention and ‘re-education’. It is beyond contempt.” and adds “Given the scale of the abuses taking place against the Uyghurs, and the failure of the Chinese government to recognise their own culpability in these matters, it would be entirely inappropriate for any UK Government minister, diplomat or official to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics early next year.”
Commenting on the motion at Liberal Democrat conference, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said:
“One thing remains clear, the Liberal Democrats will stand against the horrific persecution taking place against the Uyghurs, which amounts to the crime of genocide.
“The UK government cannot just stand by. We must implement Magnitsky sanctions on the architects of these human rights abuses. It would be utterly inappropriate for any UK Government minister, diplomat or official to attend the Beijing Games, given the grave crimes which the CCP is committing.
“We also need to play our part in the protection of those under persecution that’s why we’re calling on the new Foreign Secretary to grant asylum for those fleeing these atrocities immediately.”