The International Criminal Court (ICC) has asked for more evidence before it will be willing to open an investigation into claims of genocide against Uighur people by China, but has said it will keep the file open for such further evidence to be submitted.
With Beijing not a signatory to the ICC, those bringing the claim of genocide have pointed to the alleged forcing of Uighur people from Tajikistan and Cambodia into China as evidence. Both countries are signatories to the Rome statute setting up the ICC.
The expected ICC decision, already relayed to lawyers, is that there is still insufficient evidence to warrant opening a full scale investigation. Those bringing the claim say extra evidence is already being submitted to the ICC in The Hague and some of the initial evidence gathering had been delayed by the inability to travel to gather documentation because the coronavirus pandemic.
The legal team said it had this week submitted a further communication to the prosecutor outlining this evidence. The ICC, already under attack from the US, will have to weigh the politics of opening a complaint against the world's other superpower.
The latest complaint makes clear that the alleged crimes committed against the Uighur people in north-west China have been widespread and systematic, including people being subjected to imprisonment and torture as well as forced birth control, sterilisations and marriages.
The lawyers claim the torture has taken place on a mass scale and all examples should be investigated in order to ascertain whether the alleged perpetrators can be charged and tried.
ICC asks for more evidence on Uighur genocide claims
Court expected to rule there is still insufficient evidence against China, but file to be kept open
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