Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present a petition with regard to the Chinese Communist Party's use of arbitrary detention of Canadian citizens as a bargaining chip through hostage diplomacy. Though it is a relief that Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have finally been released from the Chinese detention and hostage-taking that lasted over 1,000 days, the Government of Canada must not forget that over 115 other Canadians are still being detained in China.
The petition highlights the case of Huseyin Celil, a Canadian who has been detained in China since 2006 for speaking out against the Uighur genocide. The Chinese government refuses to acknowledge Mr. Celil's Canadian citizenship and refuses to give him consular services.
The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to demand that the Chinese government recognize Mr. Celil's Canadian citizenship and provide him with consular services and legal services, ensure that Mr. Celil's unjust detention is a priority for the Canadian government, appoint a special envoy to ensure Mr. Celil's release and work with the Biden administration and other allies to seek the release of Mr. Huseyin Celil.