NEWS

World Uyghur Congress Commemorates Victims of Baren Uprising
On April 4th, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) commemorated the 33rd anniversary of the Baren Uprising and remembered the many Uyghur victims who perished under the Chinese government’s brutal repression.

From April 5-10, 1990, as many as three thousand Uyghurs died when the Chinese authorities brutally cracked down on Uyghur protestors. The Baren Uprising was one of the earliest expressions of growing resentment within Uyghur society in the 1990s over the increasing repression from the Chinese authorities. Similarly, the Chinese government’s violent crackdown of the protests would signal a wider escalation in the violence against the Uygur people. 

“The world should not forget the lessons of the Baren Uprising”, WUC President, Dolkun Isa, said. “33 years ago, the Chinese government already showed a glimpse of its intentions in East Turkistan, which has now come to fruition with the ongoing genocide. The international community must act, before it is too late.”

On April 5th, the WUC together with the Uyghur Community in Europe e.V. organised a demonstration in front of the Chinese Consulate in Munich to commemorate the Baren Massacre and to demand accountability for the Uyghur genocide. Commemorations were also held in Brussels and in London. 

European Parliament Vice President Highlights the Uyghur Genocide
On April 2nd, the Vice President of the European Parliament, Pina Picierno, highlighted the ongoing Uyghur genocide during the Italian conference “Tempi Radicali”. 

“I think that for years we have made many mistakes in the relationship with China, for example we have eliminated the issue of human rights in trade relations. A mistake that we must not repeat. […] Europe must put back human rights at the center of international relations,” stated MEP. Picierno.

Furthermore, the Vice-President wrote a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, ahead of their visit to Beijing. The letter asks them to provide psychological and mental support to Uyghurs in Europe, as well as to firmly urge Xi Jinping to close the internment camps in East Turkistan and to immediately release Ilham Tohti.

G7 Trade Ministers Agreed on Cooperate Export Controls
On March 4th, the trade ministers of the G7 countries agreed to cooperate on export controls of advanced technologies, to address misuse by “malicious actors”, such as China. 

“We reaffirm that export controls are a fundamental policy tool to address the challenges posed by the diversion of technology critical to military applications as well as for other activities that threaten global, regional, and national security,” they said in a joint statement.

One of the most illustrious examples is the Chinese government’s use of cutting-edge surveillance technologies to facilitate the Uyghur genocide. Since 2016, the authorities in East Turkistan have transformed the region into a police state with CCTV cameras from Dahua, Hikvision and Huawei which are equipped with facial recognition software. In addition to the heavy surveillance the authorities collected biometric data of all Uyghur residents aged 12 to 65, which is stored in a centralised searchable database.

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World Uyghur Congress Is Hiring
The WUC is seeking a full-time Global Advocacy Officer to carry out advocacy in national and international contexts. Apply by April 12th and join our dynamic team. More information on the position and application process can be found here. 

Help Resettle 10.000 Uyghur Refugees
This Ramadan you can help resettle 10,000 Uyghur refugees in Canada. Together with the Uyghur Human Rights Advocacy Project (URAP) and the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP), the WUC is supporting the implementation of the unprecedented M-62 motion in the Canadian Parliament. You can donate here.

Support Uyghurs’ Genocide & Crimes Against Humanity Case in Argentina
The World Uyghur Congress and the Uyghur Human Rights Project have launched a criminal case in the courts of Argentina in relation to the international crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity being committed against the Uyghur people. Please donate and be a part of this historical case.

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