Afzal Khan MP on Boycotting Beijing Olympics

at the House of Commons

Dr Mozammel Haque

 Labour Member for Manchester, Gorton Afzal Khan argued for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics in the House of Commons in the British Parliament on Thursday, the 15^th of July 2021.

Afzal Khan started by thanking the Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) for securing this debate and for his excellent, powerful speech.

 Afzal Khan 

(Manchester, Gorton) (Lab) [V]

Afzal Khan said, “The repression of Uyghur Muslims by the Chinese Government has a long and dark history, but in the past few years the Chinese Government have ramped up their persecution of Uyghurs. It is estimated that more than 1 million people are being held in internment camps in Xinjiang, and the Chinese Government are showing no sign of pausing their haunting campaign. Yet despite condemnation from all sides of the House, including the Government, there is still a gaping chasm between rhetoric and action. We cannot on the one hand recognise genocide and on the other send dignitaries and diplomats to the Beijing Olympics.”

Afzal Khan, MP, said, “We must be robust in our condemnation and send a message to the Uyghur Muslims that we are on their side. Calls for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics are gaining momentum internationally. It is high time that the UK demonstrates leadership on the issue and follows in the footsteps of the EU and America to send a strong message to the international community that the UK condemns the shocking human rights abuses taking place in Xinjiang and in Hong Kong. We cannot let China divert attention away from international criticism of its human rights abuses and oppressive policies.”

Labour Member for Manchester Gorton, Afzal Khan, said, “A diplomatic boycott is a basic ask. Frankly, we should not even be having a debate on this. Out of sheer principle, the UK Government must support a boycott and press China to allow the UN unfettered access to conduct an independent investigation. There are many more much-needed practical steps that the Government could take.”

Afzal Khan MP asked, “Will the Minister outline what steps the Government are taking in response to those parliamentarians who have been sanctioned by the Chinese Government? Will he provide an update on further Magnitsky sanctions for those committing human rights abuses in Xinjiang? The Government should also be investigating claims that UK universities could be inadvertently supporting the development of facial recognition and surveillance technologies that are then used by the Chinese Government in the oppression of Uyghur people. What representations has the Minister made to UK universities on that matter?”

Concluding his speech, Afzal Khan, MP, said, “In conclusion, the point is not the UK’s withdrawing support from a sporting event. It is about condemning the ongoing crimes against humanity taking place in Xinjiang. It is about ensuring that UK supply chains are not linked to forced Uyghur labour. It is about making sure that Chinese companies complicit in the surveillance of Uyghurs in Xinjiang are not sponsoring research in British universities. It is about taking a stand—a stand that I hope, after today’s timely debate, will be taken.”

Afzal Khan wrote on Twitter:

“A Diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics will ensure the UK does not turn a blind eye to the persecution of Uyghur Muslims.

It’s not about withdrawing support from a sporting event, it’s about taking a stand for human rights. We can’t let China detract from its abuses watch.

 APPG FoRB on Twitter wrote:

“Afzal Khan MP @Afzal4Gorton

“We cannot on the one hand recognise genocide and on the other send dignitaries and diplomats to the Beijing Olympics. We must  be robust in our condemnation and send a message to the Uyghur Muslims that we are on their side.”