Could The International Criminal Court Investigate Atrocities Against The Uighur Muslims In China?

Forbes
Ewelina U. Ochab
Policy
 Jul 7, 2020

Over the recent years, several news outlets reported on the dire situation of the Uighur Muslims in China who were being detained for re-education purposes. This was followed by in-depth research suggesting that the religious minority communities are subjected to modern day slavery and women are subjected to forced sterilization. Despite these severe allegations that point towards mass atrocities, as genocide or crimes against humanity, the international community has done little to ensure that the alleged atrocities are investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. International bodies, such as the United Nations, have been greatly silent, with a few meaningless statements that do not follow with decisive actions to change the fate of the targeted communities. 

This photo taken on May 31, 2019, shows a watchtower on a high-security facility near what is ... [+] AFP via Getty Images 

 

Because of this inaction, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group of senior legislators from several countries, called upon the United Nations to act. Among others, IPAC calls for:

“a resolution to be tabled at the United Nations General Assembly establishing an investigation into the situation in the Xinjiang Region;

for governments to ensure that the appropriate legal determinations are made regarding the nature of alleged atrocities. Including the claims that the People’s Republic of China is pursuing and enforcing a coordinated policy to reduce the population of minority groups in the region; 

and for rapid and decisive political action to be taken to prevent the further suffering of the Uyghur people and other minorities in China. The international community must show its determination to defend human rights globally.”

Such investigations of the atrocities are a must. However, equally, steps need to be taken to consider how best to prosecute the perpetrators. In response to the question of prosecutions, on July 6, 2020, lawyers for the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) and the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement (ETNAM), have submitted a communication to the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) asking for an investigation to be opened against senior Chinese leaders for genocide and crimes against humanity allegedly committed against the Uighur and other communities. 

Link :https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2020/07/07/could-the-international-criminal-court-investigate-atrocities-against-the-uighur-muslims-in-china/#523563442cbe