Renewed hope of Uyghurs as Genocide Amendment passes in Lords again
'Staggering' victory by 171 votes as Trade Bill amendment set to return to the Commons next week
Jack Mendel is the former Online Editor at the Jewish News.
A revised version of the Genocide Amendment has passed in the House of Lords with a “staggering” majority of 171.
Peers inflicted a heavy defeat on the government for a second time by 359 votes to 188, weeks after the House of Commons rejected the amendment by just 11 votes.
The legislation, which would allow the UK High Court to make a decision on trade deals with countries accused of genocide, will return to the Commons next Tuesday.
Put forward by Lord Alton, who said it was “neither a futile gesture or virtue signalling”, the bill aims to raise awareness over the plight of Uyghur Muslims.
It is believed that up to one million Uyghurs are being detained in ‘re-education’ camps, with claims of forced labour, sterilisation and abuse.
The Jewish community has spearheaded the campaign to end persecution of Uyghur Muslims, with this paper delivering a letter to number 10 signed by more than 150 Parliamentarians, urging the government to take action.
UK-based campaign group Stop Uyghur Genocide tweeted: “”We are delighted that the Genocide Amendment has passed through the Lords 359 to 188. A staggering majority of 171. Let this victory embolden and galvanise you. Write to your MP and urge them to back the amendment today.”
The Board of Deputies took to Twitter saying: “We applaud the House of Lords for voting in favour of Lord David Alton’s revised genocide amendment to the Government’s Trade Bill, with a huge majority of 171.””
“The systematic rape and torture of Uyghur women, revealed in horrific detail by the BBC yesterday, serves as yet another reminder that the world cannot turn away from the brutality of the Chinese government.”
“We will be holding a press conference with Uyghur speakers and a Holocaust survivor, on Monday 8th February at 2:00pm, to call on MPs to support the new amendment when it returns to the House of Commons on Tuesday.”
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