Munich – The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) calls on the Chinese government to release Ms. Rebiya Kadeer’s two sons who were detained by the Chinese police and daughter who was put under house arrest since June 1 while a U.S. congressional delegation was visiting Urumchi.

“I call on the Chinese authorities to immediately release Ms. Kadeer’s two sons, Alim and Ablikim, because their detention is illegal and outrageous,” said Erkin Alptekin, WUC president.

“The Chinese police must leave Rushangul’s house as soon as possible.” The Chinese police initially detained Ms. Kadeer’s three adult children (Alim, Ablikim, and Rushangul) on May 30 to prevent them from meeting with a U.S. congressional delegation affiliated to the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Caucus. The police later released them.

According to the Kadeer family, after the initial detention, Chinese police took Ms Kadeer’s three adult children and four grandchildren out of Urumchi for “sightseeing”. Then, the police stopped half way and severely beat Alim and Ablikim in front of Ms. Kadeer’s grandchildren, between four and 15 years of age. After the beating, the police detained Alim and Ablikim, and put Rushangul under house arrest. The grandchildren were not permitted to return home.

“The international community should put more pressure to end China’s inhuman treatment of Ms. Rebiya Kadeer’s children and grandchildren.”

Ms. Kadeer’s detention in August 1999, which led to her arrest and imprisonment, came when she herself tried to contact a visiting U.S. congressional delegation. Ms. Kadeer was sentenced to eight years in prison in March 2000, but released early last spring to the U.S. on medical parole. Since her release, Ms. Kadeer has been actively campaigning for the human rights and religious freedom of the Uyghur people. She was elected as the president of Uyghur American Association last Sunday at the Fifth Uyghur American Congress in Washington.

Signed by following affiliated Organizations of the World Uyghur Congress:

Eastern Turkistan Foundation in Turkey

Eastern Turkistan Culture and Solidarity Association in Turkey

Eastern Turkistan Culture and Solidarity Association – Ankara Section

Isa Yusup Alptekin Foundation in Turkey

Eastern Turkistan Europa Union in Germany

Uyghur American Association (UAA) in Washington

Uyghur Canadian Association in Kanada

Swedish Uygur Committé in Sweden

Swedish Uyghur Cultural Center in Sweden

Uighur U.K. Association in London

Netherlands Eastern Turkistan Foundation in Netherlands

Norway Uyghur Committe in Oslo

“Ittipak” Uigur Society of the Kyrgyz Republic

Bishkek Human Rights Committee in Kyrgyz Republic

Society Union of Uyghur National Association in Kazakhstan

Uyghur Youth Union in Kazakhsatan

Australian Uyghur Association in Sydney

Kazakhstan Representative of World Uyghur Congress

Kyrgyzstan Representative of World Uyghur Congress

Turkey Representative of World Uyghur Congress

Australian Representative of World Uyghur Congress