I'd like to call this meeting to order.
Before I begin, I would just like to remind everyone that during the course of this meeting we do not allow videorecording or photographs to be taken. I'd ask that everybody please be conscious of that.
Welcome, everyone.
Please have a seat, colleagues.
On today's agenda is a briefing on the human rights situation involving the Uyghurs.
We have as a witness Mehmet Tohti, who is a representative of the Uyghur Canadian Society.
Mehmet Tohti was born in Xinjiang province in China and now lives in Toronto. He is the founder of the Uyghur Canadian Society and was vice-president of the World Uyghur Congress. Mr. Tohti also appeared before our subcommittee in March 2014.
I welcome you back to the committee, Mr. Tohti. I know that you've testified here once before.
The structure of the meeting today will be a 10-minute opening statement, and I would ask that you keep to that time frame. That will be followed by rounds of questions from the members of Parliament present.
With that, Mr. Tohti, I would invite you to begin your opening statement.