NEWS

Rights Groups Call for Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Winter Games on Global Day of Action 
On January 4th, which marked exactly one month before the start of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Uyghur, Tibetan, Hong Konger, Southern Mongolian, Taiwanese, and Chinese democracy and human rights groups came together in various cities around the world to hold protest actions against the Beijing Games.

In each city, the protesters highlighted the atrocious human rights abuses in China, and called upon their governments to announce a diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022. The World Uyghur Congress organized and participated in protests in Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and joined a live debate at the Press Club in Brussels.

Global Imams Council Announces Opposition against Beijing Winter Olympics
On the 30th of December 2021, the Global Imams Council published a statement in which it expressed its opposition against the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, saying that “participation and attendance in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are prohibited” as it “directly serves the interests of a tyrannical and oppressive regime that is responsible for the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Uyghurs.” The World Uyghur Congress welcomed the statement as an important step in the global resistance against the Beijing Winter Olympics. The statement by the Global Islamic Council, the largest transnational non-governmental body of Muslim faith leaders, shows that Muslim citizens and organizations worldwide have become outspoken advocates against the Uyghur Genocide, in light of the shameful silence of governments of Muslim-majority states.

Tesla Criticized for Opening a Showroom in East Turkistan
On December 31st, American automobile company Tesla announced the opening of a showroom in Urumqi, East Turkistan, despite widespread evidence about the genocidal crimes being committed by the Chinese government in the region, including forced labor. In the days that followed, rights and trade groups as well as decision makers worldwide criticized the decision. “We deplore the opening of the showroom by Tesla,” WUC President Dolkun Isa told Radio Free Asia on January 4th. “We call on international bodies, human rights groups, and NGOs to condemn this move. Tesla’s move may potentially violate a number of U.S. laws, including the UFLPA.”

Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region Urges IOC to Publish Due Diligence Record 
On January 4th, the Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region said in a statement that the “International Olympic Committee (IOC) should immediately disclose what, if any, specific due diligence steps it has taken to identify and eliminate any material produced with Uyghur forced labour in Olympic-branded merchandise”. “The IOC cannot be allowed to let so-called neutrality override morality when it comes to slave labour,” said Zumretay Arkin, World Uyghur Congress Program and Advocacy Manager. “Olympic leaders must take responsibility for labour and human rights at a time when the reality of forced labour of the Uyghur people is now widely recognized and condemned around the world.” 

The statement followed Coalition attempts for eight months in 2021 to seek information and assess assurances about the IOC’s due diligence steps. On December 21, the IOC rejected the Coalition’s proposed terms for substantive, constructive, and mutually respectful two-way dialogue.

Uyghurs in Turkey File Criminal Complaint Against Chinese Officials
On January 4th, Al Jazeera reported that nineteen Uyghurs in Turkey filed a criminal complaint with Turkish Prosecutor against 112 Chinese officials, including members of the Chinese Communist Party, directors and officers at labor camps, accusing them of committing genocide, torture, rape and crimes against humanity. As Turkish legislation recognizes universal jurisdiction, atrocities such as torture, genocide, rape and crimes against humanity can be prosecuted in Turkish courts and criminals can be tried. Just a few weeks ago, the WUC filed a similar universal jurisdiction complaint against Chinese officials with criminal courts in Argentina.