Rights Groups Call on Canada’s PM to Raise Uyghur Human Rights in Talks with Xi Jinping

by Uyghur Times Staff

Jan 13, 2026

Human rights groups in Canada are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to put human rights—especially the persecution of Uyghurs—at the center of his upcoming meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Ahead of Carney’s January 13–17, 2026 visit to China, Human Rights Watch said the prime minister should make human rights a key focus of the trip, warning that abuses in China have continued to intensify in recent years.

In a separate open letter, the Canadian Coalition on Human Rights in China, which represents 10 Canadian organizations, said Carney’s visit offers a rare opportunity for direct engagement with China’s top leadership and should not be reduced to trade or economic concerns. The coalition argued that what has been missing from Canada’s China policy is a comprehensive strategy that places human rights at the center of the entire bilateral relationship, rather than limiting the issue to a small group of officials or closed-door discussions.

Mehmet Tohti, the Executive Director of Uyghur Rights Advocacy, said: “For Canada, China is neither a saviour nor a strategic alternative to its democratic allies, and it will not become one. Beijing’s approach to international relations is transactional and opportunistic, guided by perceived advantage rather than mutual trust. History shows China engages patiently, waits strategically, and advances its interests when conditions appear favourable. Canada must therefore approach this visit with sober realism ensuring engagement should be cautious, guarded, and anchored in a clear understanding of China’s long-term objectives.”

Uyghur rights featured prominently in the appeal. Advocacy groups urged Carney to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Huseyin Celil, a Uyghur-Canadian who has been detained in China for years without consular access. They also called on him to reaffirm Parliament’s determination that China’s mass detention of Uyghurs constitutes genocide under international law.

The coalition also asked Carney to raise cases involving jailed Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai, other pro-democracy activists, imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners, detained Tibetan and Christian religious leaders, and Chinese dissidents with close family ties to Canada. It further warned of Chinese government harassment and influence operations targeting activists inside Canada.

The calls come amid growing debate in Canada over how to approach Beijing. A recent Toronto Sun editorial argued that China poses a greater long-term threat to Canada than the United States and cautioned against placing trade ahead of national security and human rights.

Rights advocates say Carney’s meetings in Beijing will be a key test of whether Canada is prepared to put human rights—particularly the fate of Uyghurs—at the core of its China policy.