World Uyghur Congress, 24 August 2018

Germany Halts All Deportations of Uyghurs to China

It was announced this week that the German government has decided not to deport Uyghurs or other Muslim minority to China due to the severe persecution Uyghurs are subjected to on behalf of their ethnic identity. The halt in deportations was a result of an information request from German MP Margarete Bause and her team, as well as work from the World Uyghur Congress and civil society organisations to raise awareness of the situation in East Turkistan.

This decision will undoubtedly save Uyghur lives and sets an important precedent by acknowledging the persecution and significant dangers facing Uyghur refugees and asylum seekers. Uyghurs are at significant risk of torture, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance if returned to China. Over 300 Uyghurs have been extradited to China from 16 different countries in the last 15 years, the vast majority of whom have disappeared since their return. In April 2018, a 22-year-old Uyghur asylum seeker was mistakenly returned to China from Germany after an administrative error. Since his return, he has disappeared and their has been no information about his welfare and well-being despite interventions from the German government on his behalf.

China Forces Out Buzzfeed Journalist Who Reported on Situation in East Turkistan

Megha Rajagopolan, a journalist for Buzzfeed news, has been effectively forced out of China after the Chinese government refused to renew her visa, due to her excellent coverage of China’s persecution of Uyghurs and related topics. Ms. Rajagopolan covered many Uyghur related issues and was instrumental in unveiling China’s horrific persecution of Uyghurs. She was one of the first journalists to report on the political indoctrination camps and was an important voice on the issue.

The expulsion of Ms. Rajagopolan is yet another example of China’s attempt to silence any critical voices and prevent its flagrant human rights violations in East Turkistan from being exposed. The Chinese propaganda outlet the Global Times published an article criticising coverage of her expulsion, accusing her of ‘distorted reporting’  and ‘feeding the Western media narrative’. China has previously expelled journalists who have reported on issues in East Turkistan, most notably Ursula Guathier. The US Embassy in Beijing has criticised the decision, saying, ““The United States is deeply concerned that foreign and domestic journalists in China continue to face excessive restrictions that impede their ability to do their jobs”.

Uyghur Human Rights Project Publishes Comprehensive Report on Internment Camps

The Uyghur Human Rights Project have published a detailed new report on the mass arbitrary detention of over 1 million Uyghurs in political indoctrination camps, documenting the camp system, examining the scale of the facilities, as well as the reported conditions and detainee numbers.

UHRP also collected testimony of Uyghurs with experience inside the camps and interviewed Uyghurs whose relatives and friends have disappeared into the camps to share their stories as an example of what the broader Uyghur community is experiencing.

The report is entitled ‘The Mass Internment of Uyghurs: “We want to be respected as humans. Is it too much to ask?”’ and should be required reading for anyone interested in the current situation in East Turkistan.

WUC Mourns the Death of Tibetan Activist Tsewang Norbu

The WUC published a press release this week expressing its deep sadness at death of Tsewang Norbu and expresses its condolences to his friends, family and the Tibetan community. Tsewang Norbu was a pivotal figure for the Tibetan community in Germany and was tireless in the struggle for human rights for Tibetans. 

He was also a friend to the Uyghur community in Germany. Through his work with the Tibet Initiative Deutschland (of which he was a founding member and advisory board member), he collaborated closely with the WUC and the Uyghur community in Germany on a number of occasions to collectively raise human rights issues for the Uyghur and Tibetan communities. The WUC sincerely thanks him for his many contributions to the Uyghur cause and for his friendship.

Reports of Deaths and Detentions of Uyghurs in Political Indoctrination Camps

More reports of deaths and detentions of Uyghurs in political indoctrination have emerged this week, as the situation continues to deteriorate. Radio Free Asia reported on the drowning death of a young Uyghur boy whose parents are detained in a political indoctrination camp. The sad news highlights the fact that a large number of Uyghur children have effectively been orphaned and at risk while their parents are detained in the camps. It was also reported that Chinese authorities detained a prominent ethnic Uyghur philanthropist, his brother, and two of the brother’s business partners, who were targeted for their perceived ties to a Uyghur education fund.