Mr. Speaker, the Chinese Communist Party uses arbitrary detention of Canadian citizens as a bargaining chip in diplomacy.
Though it is a relief that Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have finally been released from Chinese detention after 1,020 long days, the Government of Canada must not forget that over 115 other Canadians are still being detained in China. This petition highlights the case of Huseyin Celil, a Canadian who has been detained in China since 2006 for speaking out about the Uighur genocide. The Chinese government refuses to acknowledge Mr. Celil's Canadian citizenship and refuses him consular services.
The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to, one, demand the Chinese government recognize Mr. Celil's Canadian citizenship and provide him with consular and legal services; two, ensure that Mr. Celil's unjust detention is a priority for the Canadian government; three, appoint a special envoy to ensure Mr. Celil's release; and four, work with the Biden administration and other allies to seek the release of Mr. Huseyin Celil.