World Uyghur Congress to Stage Demonstrations in Berlin Against Ershidin Israel´s Extradition from Kazakhstan to China
Press release – For immediate release
03 June 2011
Contact: World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
Tel. 0049 (0) 89 5432 1999 or e-mail [email protected]
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) calls on the European community to join the WUC and its member organizations in demonstrations in front of the Kazakh and Chinese embassies in Berlin to protest against the recent extradition of the Uyghur refugee Ershidin Israel from Kazakhstan to China. The demonstrations will take place on Tuesday, 7 June 2011.
Ershidin Israel, once recognised by the UNHCR as refugee, has been extradited from Kazakhstan to China on 31 May 2011 after Kazakhstan´s Supreme Court refused to grant him political asylum, despite the urgent appeal on Mr. Israel sent by four UN special procedures mandate holders to the Kazakh authorities back in July 2010. Mr. Israel fled China in September 2009 after having provided information to Radio Free Asia´s Uyghur service (www.rfa.org) about the torture to death of the Uyghur man Shohret Tursun at the hands of Chinese security forces. Kazakh authorities have held Mr. Israel since June 2010 amid Chinese accusations he was involved in “terrorism activities.” However, the WUC firmly believes that these accusations are fabricated and an attempt to punish him for leaking Mr. Tursun´s case.
Kazakhstan has ratified the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees, the 1967 Protocol to the Status of Refugees, and the UN Convention against Torture. Importantly, the two Conventions contain various safeguards against the expulsion of refugees. The principle of non-refoulement is so fundamental that no reservations or derogations may be made to it. It provides that no one shall expel or return (“refouler”) a refugee against his or her will, in any manner whatsoever, to a territory where he or she fears threats to life or freedom. By extraditing Ershidin Israel to China, the Kazakh government has therefore clearly violated the conventions it is part of.
The WUC harshly condemns Mr. Israel´s extradition and is extremely worried about his fate. Uyghurs who have been extradited to China in the past, were detained, imprisoned, sentenced, tortured, executed or disappeared after their return to China and the WUC believes that he will face detention and torture.
With the demonstrations, the WUC also demands the Chinese and Kazakh governments to disclose Mr. Israel´s current whereabouts, legal status and well being and to ensure that he will be treated according to international human rights standards.
Locations of the demonstrations on 7 June 2011:
9.00 – 11.00 h
in front of the Embassy of Kazakhstan
Nordendstraße 14
13156 Berlin, Germany
11.30 – 13.30 h
in front of the Chinese Embassy in Berlin
Märkisches Ufer 54
10179 Berlin, Germany
See also:
Kazakhstan Deports Uyghur Teacher
Freedom House Condemns Kazakhstan’s Decision to Deport Uyghur Refugee