UK failure to impose sanctions on China over Uighurs ‘painful and hurtful’

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The British government’s failure to include Chinese officials in the latest round of its “Magnitsky Sanctions” on human rights abuses has been described as “painful and hurtful” by a leading Uighur activist. Those named, said foreign secretary Dominic Raab, faced asset freezes and travel bans, adding: “Global Britain will stand up for democracy, human rights and the rule of law as a force for good in the world.” But there were no sanctions against the Beijing government over mass abuse in Xinjiang, where up to 1 million Uighur Muslims have been sent to prison camps and the community subjected to draconian laws with religious and cultural practices suppressed. The transition cannot come so quickly when the previous government believed in that ‘Golden Era’, in golden opportunities.” Speaking at an event organised by the US embassy in London to mark World Human Rights Day, Ms Mahmut continued that the UK will take action against Beijing over the abuse in the future. there is nothing to expect from China and there is no fantasy to be had about the Chinese communist party and the nature of the Chinese government’s policies.” The US administration has imposed sanctions on 14 senior Chinese officials this week for their role in “developing, adopting, or implementing” the punitive National Security Law imposed on Hong Kong.