Mr. Speaker, the Chinese Communist Party uses the arbitrary detention of Canadian citizens as a bargaining chip through hostage diplomacy. It is certainly a relief that Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have finally been released from Chinese detention after more than 1,000 long days, but the Government of Canada must also not forget that more than 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 his Canadian citizenship and is refusing him consular services.
The petitioners have a number of calls to action for the government to take. They want the Government of Canada to demand that the Chinese government recognize Mr. Celil's Canadian citizenship and provide him with consular 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 American administration and other allies to seek the release of Mr. Huseyin Celil.