Calls grow to relocate 2022 Winter Olympics from China over Uyghur atrocities; China threatens of sanctions

London/Beijing: – The protest against the Winter Olympics scheduled to be held in China is slowly intensifying, over the issue of atrocities against the Uyghurs. Along with the British lawmakers, 180 leading human rights organisations across the world have demanded a ban on these Olympics. Whereas, lawmakers from Canada proposed to move the venue of the Olympics elsewhere. Agitation grows in China over the increasing opposition. Besides, it has warned to impose sanctions against the countries demanding this ban.

Winter Olympics are scheduled to be held in 2022 in China. The event will be held in the Hebei province along with capital Beijing. In a meeting held in 2015, the responsibility to organise this event was handed over to China. But discontent is intensifying against China globally, over the issues such as Hongkong, Uyghur people, activities in the South China Sea and the handling of the Coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, Chinese allies, as well as partner countries, have adopted an aggressive stand against China.

The demand coming from the United Kingdom and Canada also is considered a part of the same discontent. Ed Davy, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, and members of the Labour party have demanded that the British sportsmen not participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics, which is part of the Chinese propaganda war. British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab has indicated to adopt a positive stand on the issue.

The delegation representing all the parties in Canada has demanded a ban on the Winter Olympics in China. Moreover, it has proposed that the venue should be moved to another country. This explicitly mentions the atrocities suffered by the Uyghur population at the Chinese communist regime’s hands. 180 human rights organisations worldwide have also demanded a boycott of the Winter Olympics in China. The Canadian lawmakers have also supported this demand. World Uyghur Congress, the leading Uyghur organisation, has fired a salvo of criticism naming the games as ‘Genocide Games’.

Threatening tones are emanating from China, in view of the growing opposition on the international level. Global Times, the mouthpiece of the Chinese government has warned of sanctions. Global Times editor, Hu Shijin, threatened that the demand to boycott the Winter Olympics in China, has not garnered too much support. The countries who support the appeal will face tough sanctions from China.

The British lawmakers have aptly replied to the Chinese threat. Lawmaker Ed Davy warned that the Chinese danger while carrying out a genocide of the minorities, is clear that bullying and the United Kingdom will not succumb to such oppression. Meanwhile, moves have started in the United Kingdom to officially refer to the incidents of atrocities against the Uyghurs as ‘Genocide’. A senior legal expert has published an independent report regarding the atrocities against the Uyghur people. The report says that there is sufficient evidence required to refer the atrocities against the Uyghur people as ‘Genocide’. Simultaneously, the report also accuses that Chinese President Xi Jinping is directly responsible for this ‘Genocide’.

Sources indicated that this report could be referred to as a Legal Opinion, while taking decisions in the legal matters, about the Uyghur people in the United Kingdom.