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China sanctions Belgian lawmaker for motion warning of genocide risk against Xinjiang Uygurs
- Beijing announces sanction of member of parliament Samuel Cogolati for ‘spreading lies and false information’
- Belgian proposal is intended to disrupt Xinjiang’s social stability and contain China’s development, foreign ministry says
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Beijing has sanctioned a Belgian lawmaker who called for a proposal warning of a risk of genocide against Uygur Muslims in Xinjiang.
The foreign relations committee of the Belgian parliament approved a motion related to Xinjiang on Tuesday, warning of a “a serious risk of genocide against” Uygur Muslims in the region, and “mass violations of human rights that may constitute crimes against humanity”. The resolution will be confirmed by a plenary session in the House of Representatives on July 1.
Beijing responded on Wednesday that it had decided to sanction the member of parliament, Samuel Cogolati, who authored the motion, for “spreading lies and false information” and pushing the proposal.
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“The allegation of ‘genocide’ in Xinjiang is a total rumour and lie fabricated by people with ulterior motives. The real intention is to disrupt Xinjiang’s social stability and contain China’s development,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a press conference, urging anti-China forces to stop “interfering in China’s domestic affairs in the name of human rights”.
02:23
China passes anti-sanctions law to counter punitive action by foreign countries
China passes anti-sanctions law to counter punitive action by foreign countries
The European Union imposed sanctions on Chinese individuals and entities related to the alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang in March. China immediately responded with retaliatory sanctions.
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