Weekly Brief: 01 October 2021
NEWS
Opening of the Uyghur Mosque, the Canadian Islamic & Cultural Center in Canada
On September 25, Canadian Uyghurs officially opened a mosque, named the Uyghur Canadian Islamic & Cultural Center, in Toronto. The opening ceremony drew members of the Uyghur community in Canada, Canadian MP Sameer Zuberi, diplomats and officials, as well as World Uyghur Congress (WUC) President, Dolkun Isa, and Rushan Abbas, executive director of the Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU).
“Under the Gavel: Evidence of Uyghur-owned Property Seized and Sold Online”
On September 24th, the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) released a new report documenting the Chinese government’s seizure and sale of property owned by successful Uyghur entrepreneurs. The report, titled “Under the Gavel: Evidence of Uyghur-Owned Property Seized and Sold Online”, documents numerous properties belonging to Uyghur business people being sold on the judicial auctions section of the e-commerce website Taobao, owned by the Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA). Assets sold by the Uyghur Autonomous Region court system include commercial and residential real estate, as well as shares of companies. These properties were seized in the course of criminal cases during the ongoing genocide.
Germany and Lithuania Investigate Cyber Security of Chinese Mobile Phones
On September 25th, Politico reported that German authorities are launching an investigation into the cyber security of certain Chinese mobile phones. The move comes after Lithuania’s defense ministry released a report earlier this week that found a dormant censorship configuration that can be activated remotely in one model of Xiaomi phones sold in Europe. Vilnius is now advising its citizens not to purchase these phones and throw out any that have already been bought. According to the Lithuanian investigation, Xiaomi cellphones have the option of censoring terms such as “Long live Taiwan independence” or “Free Tibet.”
Dolkun Isa Participates at UN Human Rights Council
On September 27th, WUC’s President, Dolkun Isa, raised the Uyghur genocide as an urgent item during the 48 regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. In his intervention, Mr. Isa highlighted the urgent need for a UN investigation in East Turkistan, given the rapid deterioration of the situation for Uyghurs. However, in an attempt to disrupt Mr. Isa’s participation, the Chinese Mission interrupted his statement, trying to discredit Mr. Isa, as well as the WUC and its work.
Yaqub Haji, a prominent Uyghur businessman and philanthropist died in East Turkistan
On September 27th, Radio Free Asia reported that Yaqub Haji, a prominent Uyghur businessman and philanthropist was tortured and died in East Turkistan. He was arrested in 2018 after donating money for the construction of a mosque in Ghulja. RFA’s investigation suggests that authorities released Haji’s body to one of his siblings on 6 September, before a rushed burial. Chinese authorities have targeted and arrested numerous Uyghur businessmen, intellectuals, and cultural and religious figures in East Turkistan for years as part of a campaign to monitor, control, and assimilate Uyghurs.
PARTICIPATE:
Protests Around Europe on PRC National Day
On October 1st and 2nd, on the occasion of the People’s Republic of China’s National Day, the WUC is (co-)organizing protests in Berlin, London, Munich, and Paris.
Join us to demand an end to China’s atrocious human rights crimes!
Berlin | October 1st, 11:00 – 13:00, Jannowitzbrücke (in front of the Chinese Embassy).
London | October 1st, 18:30, From Piccadilly Circus to the Chinese Embassy.
Munich | October 1st, 15:00 – 17:00, Hofmannstr. 56 (in front of the Chinese Consulate)
Paris | October 2nd, 14:00, From Place de la Bastille to Place de la République.