The Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP) Statement on Huseyin Celil’s Case

In response to a question about the illegal detainment of Huseyin Celil from Vice-Chair Tom Kmiec, Ambassador May stated that Huseyin Celil "is a dual Canadian and Chinese citizen." This is an unequivocally false statement. She further stated that due to Mr. Celil’s dual citizenship, the Chinese authorities do not grant Canada consular access.

Mr. Celil became a Canadian citizen on November 15, 2005, after arriving in Canada with UNHCR-mandated refugee status. According to the Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China, Article 3, China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national. Article 9 states that any Chinese national who has settled abroad and acquired foreign nationality of his own free will automatically loses Chinese nationality. Therefore, China would have stripped Huseyin Celil of Chinese citizenship, meaning Mr. Celil can only be a Canadian citizen. In yesterday’s Committee, Vice-Chair Heather McPherson rightfully corrected Ambassador May, stating that Mr. Celil is indeed a Canadian citizen, regardless of what the Chinese government says.

Chinese authorities have refused to recognize Celil’s Canadian citizenship, denying him all consular access. The Canadian government cannot submit to the threatening and fallacious tactics of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Ambassador May’s statement yesterday contradicts the facts of his case and effectively serves to justify the CCP’s illegal detention of Mr. Celil

In light of Mr. Celil’s Canadian citizenship, the Government of Canada has an obligation to represent him and call on the Chinese government to release him immediately. URAP, along with other dedicated human rights defenders, have continuously raised his case and cause with the Canadian government. It is unacceptable that Canadian officials do not have the facts of his case correct. This taints the Canadian government’s ability to advocate for justice and his release.

This approach is very dangerous and creates unprecedented consequences for many Canadians, including Uyghur Canadians. We request the Government of Canada to carefully review its position and uphold the integrity of our citizenship and nationality against the ambiguity of China’s claims, which contradict their own laws. China is effectively manipulating its nationality law to expand transnational repression of Uyghurs and Hongkongers by claiming that all who were born in China are regarded as China’s nationals, disregarding their foreign citizenship. Canada’s acceptance of China’s claim is nothing less than endorsing China’s transnational hunt of dissidents by stretching the limits of its existing laws.

URAP calls on the Government of Canada to recognize Huseyin Celil’s sole Canadian citizenship and to protect his rights as a Canadian citizen. The acknowledgment and protection of his citizenship status are critical not only for Mr. Celil but for the principles of justice and human rights that Canada upholds.