Shameful scene for Canada

Views from around the world. These opinions are not necessarily shared by Stuff newspapers.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau refused to take a stand for human rights on Monday. In fact, he even refused to allow others to take a stand for human rights. In a shocking decision, Trudeau ordered his cabinet not to show up to the House of Commons during a motion to condemn China for genocide against its Uighur Muslim population. Only one cabinet minister – Marc Garneau – was allowed to be in attendance and he had to abstain on the vote. What a shameful scene for Canada.

The accusations levelled against China for its considerable abuses against the persecuted Uighur minority are well documented. A UK House of Commons subcommittee probing international human rights even recently concluded that ‘‘genocide’’ was a fair label for China’s actions.

Liberal backbenchers were allowed to vote freely and, to their credit, some went against the boss’s wishes and supported the motion.

Trudeau’s decision sends a very disappointing message to Muslims, human rights activists and Chinese dissidents that he won’t be standing up to the authoritarian regime of the Chinese Communist Party any time soon. More worryingly, it continues to send a message to China that Trudeau will do whatever it takes to avoid upsetting them.