NEWS

World Uyghur Congress Establishes Uyghur Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag
On September 5, the WUC in collaboration with the Chairman MP Peter Heidt (FDP), and the Vice Chairs MP Derya Türk-Nachbaur (SPD), MP Boris Mijatović (The Greens), MP Michael Brand (CDU/CSU), represented by MP Norbert Altenkamp (CDU/CSU), as well as MP Ulrich Lechte (FDP) and MP Stephan Seiter (FDP) launched the Uyghur Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag. Making it the 8th Uyghur Friendship Group in a global parliament. 

The establishment of the parliamentary group is an important contribution to condemn the human rights abuses committed by the Chinese government against the Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in East Turkistan. It joins a total of 7 worldwide friendship groups that have made an essential contribution to addressing the genocide of the Uyghurs within their national parliaments.

“The Uyghur Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag is of a special symbolism for the Uyghurs. Since the 1990s, Uyghur activists fleeing increasing repressive measures by the Chinese government have found a new home in Germany. Today, Germany is the centre of the Uyghur exile community and home to the umbrella organisation World Uyghur Congress”, said Dolkun Isa, President of the World Uyghur Congress.

The launch was joined by Members of the German Parliament, and the Uyghur diaspora, including the Uyghur Youth Initiate. During the launch event, the Uyghur Europe Ensemble performed traditional Uyghur music and the Uyghur Women’s NGO from Munich helped showcase the rich Uyghur culture through dance. 

World Uyghur Congress Calls on UN Human Rights Office to Take Concrete Action to Stop the Uyghur Genocide
On September 1, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, to act on the recommendations made in the historic report on Uyghurs, to inform the UN Human Rights Council on the current situation in East Turkistan and to identify a constructive way to remedy the persistent grievances for Uyghurs. 

September 1, marks the first anniversary of the report, which concluded that the ongoing atrocities and human rights abuses in East Turkistan, particularly the “arbitrary and discriminatory detention” of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples, within the context of other restrictions “may amount to international crimes, in particular, crimes against humanity”. To date the report offers the most definitive assessment of the issues faced by Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples. Despite extensive recommendations to the Chinese government, there have been no improvements recognized to address the situation, on the contrary the repressive measures have worsened. 

“One year after this groundbreaking report, we call for renewed action by the international community. China has continued its violent crackdown on Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples and the recent visit of Xi Jinping in East Turkistan demonstrates that the CCP has no intention of ending its repressive policies but rather doubles down on the systematic plan to erase the Uyghurs”, said World Uyghur Congress President Dolkun Isa. 

World Uyghur Congress Joins 3rd IPAC Summit
On September 1, the World Uyghur Congress Program and Advocacy Manager, Zumretay Arkin, and the WUC U.K-Director, Rahima Mahmut joined the 3rd Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) Summit held in the Czech Chamber of Deputies and Senate, Prague. IPAC “is an international cross-party group of legislators working towards reform on how democratic countries approach China.”

During the two-day summit, the IPAC group of 50 legislators from 25 countries discussed six thematic issues: Taiwan, renewable dependency, transnational repression, Hong Kong, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and human rights. The Uyghur Genocide and tackling Uyghur forced labour through supply chain due diligence were also high on the agenda. At the end of the summit, a communiqué with concrete campaign objectives was adopted to hold China accountable.

World Uyghur Congress Attends IRF Summit in Taiwan
On September 7, the WUC President Dolkun Isa attended the IRF Summit on Religious Freedom in Taipei, together with Uyghur Human Rights Project Executive Director, Omer Kanat and USCIRF Chair, Nury Turkel. The IRF was hosted by Mr. You Si Kun, Speaker of the Taiwanese Parliament. 

During his opening remarks the Taiwanese Vice President William Lai, stated that “Taiwan is obligated to reciprocate to the international community and stand with global religious leaders and the pan-democratic camp”. Furthermore, he highlighted Taiwan’s history with authoritarianism and an almost 4 decade rule of martial law, and how these oppressive systems lead to religious persecution in the country.

The entry into Taiwan marks an historic moment, as WUC President Dolkun Isa was able to successfully enter Taiwan after a 15 year travel ban.

World Uyghur Congress Submits Letter to UK Government
On September 4, it was announced that the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Select Committee in the UK, MP Alicia Kearns, tabled an amendment to the UK energy bill. This amendment would require solar energy companies to submit a report proving that their supply chains are free of Uyghur forced labour. 

Backing the amendment, the World Uyghur Congress together with the Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region, wrote a letter to the UK Government, stating that there are no valid means for companies to verify that any workplace in East Turkistan is free of forced labour or to prevent the use of forced labour in the region in line with human rights due diligence. Therefore, businesses must operate on the assumption that all products produced in part or in whole in East Turkistan are at high risk of being tainted by forced labour.

The letter furthermore calls for solar companies to exit the region and for global governments, including the UK to “enact import control legislation banning imports of goods made in whole or in part with forced labour”, and to introduce measures for diversification of renewable energy technology supply chains.

PARTICIPATE

Help the World Uyghur Congress Establish an Uyghur Cultural-Centre
The World Uyghur Congress is raising funds to establish an Uyghur Cultural-Centre in Munich; a dedicated space where the Uyghur community and everyone interested in the Uyghur culture can come together to learn and preserve the rich Uyghur cultural heritage. With the generous support and help of the Uyghur community worldwide, we have already achieved 80% of the total amount needed to purchase the necessary facilities. Your support can help us to get the final 20%. Please donateand share!

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!

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 historic case.