Statement
30 July 2021
Contact: World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
+49 89 5432 1999 or [email protected]

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) warmly welcomes the creation of the Congressional Uyghur Caucus in the U.S. Congress. This Caucus will focus on addressing the grave human rights violations occurring in East Turkistan, against the Uyghur and other Turkic people. 

‘’This is such a welcomed initiative, and it comes at an opportune time, when Uyghurs most need strong allies to restore their freedoms, and end the Uyghur genocide’’ commented WUC President, Dolkun Isa.

The ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party against the Uyghur people can no longer be tolerated in the 21st century. In recent years, the crisis has taken new dimensions and the situation continues to deteriorate day by day. 

In the last five years alone, Uyghurs and other Turkic people in East Turkistan have been rounded up in millions and arbitrarily detained in concentration camps, where they are subjected to severe abuses, including sexual violence, torture and psychological abuses. Uyghur and Turkic women have been subjected to forced sterilisation and abortions. Uyghur children have been forcibly separated from their parents and families. The Uyghur language and culture is under threat. Forced labour is rampant in different industries and is tainting global supply chains. Uyghurs and other Turkic people are being treated as criminals for simply being born Uyghurs or belonging to a Turkic group. 

The WUC is glad to see champions of Uyghur rights in the United States, such as Representatives Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) form this Caucus to work towards a long term solution in ending the Uyghur genocide. They have previously helped pass the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act in the Senate, and will be working on its passage in the House of Representatives next. 

This Caucus is an addition to the existing Uyghur Friendship Group in European Parliament, the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Uyghurs in the UK Parliament, the Uyghur Support Group in the Japanese parliament, the Uyghur Friendship Group in the Canadian Parliament, the Uyghur Friendship Group in France, and lastly Taiwan Parliament Group for Uyghur. 

The WUC hopes to see similar initiatives all around the world, and reiterates its call to urgently act on the Uyghur genocide, and work in a collaborative approach to stop the suffering of millions of innocent people in East Turkistan.