IAN Blackford has compared the treatment of the Uighurs in China to Hitler’s treatment of the Jews, saying Britain needs to “make sure that the lessons learned from the Holocaust and other genocides around the world are not lost”.
The SNP MP is calling for cross-party action to tackle the human rights abuses in the far western Xinjiang province.
The call comes as China and the European Union move close to reaching a landmark investment deal.
Under the deal, European businesses would enjoy a more “privileged investment environment” in China than the US. It would particularly benefit telecoms and electric cars.
It’s thought more than one million people are now detained in internment camps, subject to re-education programmes, restrictions on religious and cultural beliefs, enforced labour schemes, mass surveillance and forced sterilisation of women.
China has always strenuously denied the accusations, saying the labour policies employed in the province are to counter terrorism and alleviate poverty.
Blackford said: “This past year has been tumultuous to put it lightly, but we must not lose sight of the gross human rights violations taking place in China. Whole communities have been destroyed, families have been separated, and people have been forced into detention centres.”
He added: “We have a responsibility to speak out against persecution. Scotland and the UK have enjoyed good relationships with China with potential to co-operate further on trade, education, tourism and science, but we have to hold states to account when it comes to human rights.
“We have seen this so many times throughout history.We need to make sure that the lessons learned from the Holocaust and other genocides around the world are not lost.”
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