Press Release– For immediate release
20 July 2020
Contact: World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
+49 89 5432 1999 or [email protected]

Last week, the British author, activist and co-founder of the counter-extremism organization, Quilliam International, Maajid Nawaz announced a hunger strike to address the ongoing genocide of Uyghurs in East Turkistan.

His hunger strike aimed to secure a debate in the UK parliament on the imposition of sanctions through the Magnitsky Act style legislation on individuals aiding the Chinese government implementing genocidal policies in East Turkistan. Maajid announced his hunger strike will continue until the Parliamentary petition reaches 100,000 signatures, which then qualifies for consideration for a debate in the UK Parliament. He reached the count on Sunday. 

 In a press release, he also called on the Conservative Party to:

• explicitly distance itself from Cameron & Osborne’s links to the CCP’s UK Comintern Group 48
• recognise the Uigur genocide
• pass UK Magnitsky sanctions on the CCP
• disclose any CCP linked party funding.

Moreover, Nawaz challenged the Muslim community by calling out their embarrassing silence over the abuses committed by the Chinese government on the Uyghur people. 

The WUC thanks Maajid Nawaz for standing up for the Uyghur people in a courageous way. We are profoundly grateful for this initiative that moved the entire community. In response, WUC’s President, Dolkun Isa said: ‘’We are deeply appreciative of his brave action against China’s ongoing atrocities against the Uyghur people. It is very meaningful for Uyghurs, we will never forget his strong support in times of crisis’’. 

WUC’s UK Director, Rahima Mahmut also added: ‘’I have been so moved by Majid’s actions and supportive reactions to it that, rehearsing with my musicians yesterday evening, I wept while singing, not from sadness, but from gratitude that after so many years, my people’s suffering is recognized, and the conscience of the good people of this world, of whom there are so many, is stirring into action.’’

The Uyghur community has been living a traumatic experience since 2017, where they have seen relatives disappear into the vast network of internment camps, forced labour facilities and seeing their identity being systematically wiped out. Three years and many international outcries later, no concrete action has yet been taken. Uyghurs are now facing a genocide, will the international community finally act on it, will the Muslim-Majority countries finally break their shameless silence and stand up for their ‘’Muslim brothers and sisters?’’

The World Uyghur Congress thanks all the individuals around the world for their constant support of the right of the Uyghur people, regardless of their religious, ethnic, racial or political backgrounds. Those who support us are those who have chosen to uplift the Uyghur voices and to defend human rights.