Press Release – For Immediate Release
20 January, 2022
Contact: World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
0049 (0) 89 5432 1999 or [email protected]

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) welcomes the passage of a resolution in the French Parliament (l’Assemblée nationale) by an overwhelming majority that recognizes China’s actions against the Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in East Turkistan, as crimes against humanity and genocide. The WUC commends the efforts of the Uyghur community in France, particularly the European Uyghur Institute and Uyghur camp survivors, for raising their voices and urging France to take a clear position. 

“The passage of this resolution in the French Parliament is a crucial step towards wider international recognition of the Uyghur genocide, especially after the decision of the Uyghur Tribunal, last month”, WUC President Dolkun Isa said. “We call upon the French government to follow the position of its Parliament, and make concerted efforts with partners internationally to end these unspeakable crimes”.

The resolution, which was tabled by Alain David from the Socialist Party (le groupe socialiste), recognizes that “the violence perpetrated by the authorities of the People’s Republic of China against the Uyghurs to constitute crimes against humanity and genocide”. Passed by an overwhelming majority (169 -1) , it further calls upon the French government to protect Uyghurs living on French soil against Chinese intimidation and harassment. 

The French Parliament becomes the 8th national parliament in the world to recognize the Uyghur genocide, following passed resolutions in the U.S., U.K., Canada, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Belgium, and the Czech Republic, as well as official recognition by the U.S. government. In December 2021, the independent Uyghur Tribunal confirmed these allegations in its final Judgement, highlighting the legal obligations that signatories of the U.N. Genocide Convention have to prevent the Uyghur genocide from happening.

The WUC therefore calls upon the French and other governments whose Parliaments have adopted resolutions recognizing the Uyghur genocide to adopt this position and take meaningful, coordinated action to end China’s human rights atrocities. On the same occasion, the WUC urges the UN High Commissioner’s Office to release their report on the Uyghurs.