Joel Gunter, BBC News
On the 9th, the British Independent People's Court "Uighur Court" announced that China had committed genocide against the Uyghur Muslim minority in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. He said the Chinese government's allegations of coercive contraception and sterilization on Uyghurs were a big reason for reaching this conclusion.
Sir Geoffrey Nice, the attorney who led the trial, said the court's panel of experts said China's "planned, systematic and unified policy" would "long-term He explained that he had come to the view that he was doing "population reduction". He said he believed Chinese President Xi Jinping and other government leaders were "directly responsible" for the abuses of the Muslim minority in Xinjiang.
The expert panel of the "Uyghur Court" consists of lawyers and academics. The court's rulings are not legally binding or enforceable on the country's leaders. But the court said it aimed to present a large body of evidence against China's allegations and draw an independent conclusion to the question of genocide.
The Chinese government denies all allegations of human rights violations in the Xinjiang region. Following the Uyghur court's conclusion, a government spokesman said the group was a "fake court" and a "political tool for a few anti-China forces to deceive and mislead the public."
Sir Joffrey, who read the ruling, said there was "no evidence of genocide" in the Xinjiang region, but said the alleged population control policies had the same intent as genocide. He also reported that he found evidence of crimes against humanity, torture and sexual violence committed against Uyghurs.
Ian Duncan Smith (Conservative), co-chairman of the UK Parliament's Bipartisan Alliance on China, told the BBC that now was the time for the British government to criticize China's genocide following the report.
"The British government said a competent court should assess the evidence. There could be no more competent report."
"Now is the time for the government to stop doing nothing. It should consider its relationship with China with the genocide that is occurring in the Xinjiang area as a pillar."
Conservative MP Nath Ghani said the Uyghur court's conclusion was "revolutionary".
"This court is composed of the highest standards of justice. The evidence released today is sufficient for the legitimate doubts of genocide intent."
"Of particular concern is the fact that this genocide targets women and prevents them from giving birth."
The Chinese government has long been accused of committing crimes against humanity and genocide in the northwestern Xinjiang region, which is populated by Uighurs and other Muslim minorities.
At least one million Uyghurs and Muslims are detained and placed in extrajudicial concentration camps and prisons, according to experts. Testimony from Xinjiang residents and former prisoners raises allegations of torture, forced sterilization and sexual violence.
The Uyghur court held witness testimony in London in June and September this year, and more than 70 former prisoners and experts testified.
Uyghur linguist Abduweli Ayup testified that his family in Xinjiang had been harassed. He also said Mr Ayup himself was accused of terrorism and was sentenced in absentia to 15 months. The Chinese government often accuses Uyghurs of terrorism.
Ayup told the BBC that he was "very encouraged" by the court's conclusion of genocide.
“I have been convicted by the Chinese government, but I hope that someone will convict the Chinese government in the wake of this ruling.Many Uyghurs have been sent to prison just because they are Now is the time for the oppressors to be judged.”
International opinion is divided as to whether the crackdown that China is alleged to be carrying out is equivalent to genocide. The US government has accused China of committing genocide against the Uighurs. The British, Canadian, Dutch and Lithuanian parliaments have passed similar resolutions.
But the British government refuses to accuse China of genocide. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said genocide is a word with judicial power and that its use should only be decided by criminal courts.
The Uyghur court has now declared genocide based on reports that the Chinese government is trying to wipe out Uyghur culture and reduce the Uyghur population through forced migration and contraceptive programs.
A report compiled by Human Rights Watch in April this year concluded that the Chinese government had committed crimes against humanity in the Xinjiang region, but failed to certify genocide.
Amnesty International, in its own report, reached the same conclusion.
A "Historic Day" for the Uyghurs
The Uyghur Court was set up by Sir Joffrey at the request of the global Uyghur organization, the World Uyghur Congress. Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uyghur Congress, told the BBC that the Uyghur court's ruling made the day a "historic day" for the Uyghur people.
“The international community can no longer ignore the Uyghur genocide. I have a legal obligation to take
Sir Joffrey said in his reading of the verdict that the tribunal was set up because there was no international criminal court to investigate allegations of mistreatment in Xinjiang.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced in December last year that it would not investigate the case, saying it could not bring China to justice, as it is not a member state.
In addition, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) can only bring cases approved by the United Nations Security Council (Security Council). China has veto power on the Security Council.
"If even one national or international body had thought or tried to think about this issue, there would have been no need for Uyghur courts," said Sir Joffrey.
Regarding human rights issues in China, the US, UK and Canadian governments have just announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that he would not consider canceling the sending of players to the United States and Canada.
(English article Uyghur Tribunal accuses China of genocide)
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