NEWS

Satellite Imagery Shows Expansion of Nuclear Test Sites in East Turkistan
On August 1st, Nikkei Asia reported that new satellite imagery shows that the Chinese government is expanding its nuclear testing facilities in East Turkistan. Over the past decades, nuclear testing in East Turkistan has been proven to be detrimental to the health of the Uyghur population in the region.

“China could conduct nuclear-related tests anytime, especially since the electricity line and road system now connects Lop Nur’s western military nuclear test facilities to new possible test areas in the east”, stated an expert at AllSource Analysis.

Uyghur Poet and Lecturer Serving 13-Year Prison Term 
On August 2nd, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that Ablet Abdureshid “Berqi”, a prominent Uyghur poet and lecturer was detained in 2017, as a part of the Chinese purge of Uyghur intellectuals and cultural leaders. According to RFA, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison on  “separatism” charges, and because of “mistakes he made while teaching at school”, an officer pointed out, including articles Berqi wrote and lectures he gave.

WUC Welcomes Speaker Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan 
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has welcomed this week’s visit of Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan. The visit is an important show of support for human rights and democracy at a time where these are at an all-time low in China, considering the Uyghur genocide and other rights violations. “It is exactly this kind of leadership that is needed in the face of the Chinese government’s atrocity crimes and expanding aggression against democracy and human rights”, WUC President, Dolkun Isa, said. The WUC urged other policy makers and world leaders to take similar steps to promote human rights and democracy in China and globally.

BBC Participates in Sponsorship Deal with Huawei
On August 2nd, the Spectator reported that the British Broadcaster BBC is engaging in a corporate partnership with Huawei, a Chinese tech and surveillance firm that has been shown to help the Chinese government targeting Uyghurs with its technology. A sponsorship deal between BBC and Huawei has seen Huawei adverts being run on the BBC’s website, despite Huawei being sanctioned by the U.S. and barred from the U.K.’s 5G network. “The BBC should return the money and apologise to the Uyghur community”, Luke de Pulford commented. 

PARTICIPATE

“Free Xinjiang Detainees” Campaign
Over the past few months, Amnesty International has run its “Free Xinjiang Detainees” campaign, a petition urging the Chinese government to close the internment camps and immediately free all detainees. Sign the petition here!

Ask Volkswagen to Close its Plant in East Turkistan
Despite growing evidence of the ongoing genocide against the Uyghurs, Volkswagen continues to operate a plant in East Turkistan. The World Uyghur Congress is collecting signatures to demand Volkswagen to close down its plant in Urumchi. Please sign here.