UN body, in rare move, rejects debate on China's treatment of Uighur Muslims
The Straits TimesOct 06, 2022
On Thursday, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) rejected a Western-led motion to hold a debate on alleged Chinese human rights abuses after a UN report concluded that China's actions against the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity.
The motion for a debate was defeated by a vote of 19 to 17, with 11 countries abstaining. A number of the countries that voted "no" were Muslim-majority nations, such as Indonesia, Somalia, Pakistan, the UAE, and Qatar.
It's hugely disappointing that this motion was shot down, especially by countries with Muslim populations. The proposal only sought to open a debate about China's abuse and mistreatment of Muslims, and it seems that those who voted against it did so out of fear of losing Chinese economic investment.
Though Western nations, specifically the US, love to pontificate about human rights, this is only to serve the West's geopolitical interests. It's quite telling that prominent Muslim-majority countries like the UAE and Qatar chose to vote "no," proving that the developing world is beginning to wake up and challenge Western hegemony over international affairs.