NEWS

World Uyghur Congress Attends International Conference on Tibet
From February 23-25, the president of the World Uyghur Congress, Dolkun Isa attended the 9th International Conference of the Tibet Support Group in Brussels. The three-day conference was organised by the Tibet Interest Group of the European Parliament in collaboration with the International Campaign for Tibet. More than 170 members of the Tibet Interest Group, alongside civil society leaders and politicians, gathered to strengthen their efforts to address the situation in Tibet. On February 23, during the third plenary session titled “Global Advocacy against CCP: Prospects and Challenges” the WUC President spoke on cross-movement solidarity and global advocacy against the CCP together with Hong Kong human rights activist, Joey Siu. The penal was moderated by Tibetan activist, Lhadon Tethong.

Association of Ethical Shareholders Call on Sustainable Investment Funds to Divest from VW
The association of ethical shareholders has called on sustainable investment funds to divest from Volkswagen due to the company’s complicity in Uyghur forced labor. Recent reports revealed that VW’s joint venture in East Turkistan employed Uyghur labor to construct a test track in Turpan in 2019. VW has continuously denied allegations of Uyghur forced labor being present in their joint venture and supply chain. ‘We have long been calling on Volkswagen to turn its Chinese supply chain upside down in search for parts and materials produced in [East Turkistan] to rule out the use of inputs produced with forced labor,’ said Tilman Massa, co-director of the Ethical Shareholders. 

On February 14, Union Investment, the second largest fund management company after Deka Bank, announced their decision to exclude Volkswagen as a possible investment for sustainable funds.

China Prolongs Its Forced Labor Transfer Schemes
On February 23, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on recent research by Dr. Adrian Zenz from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation concerning China’s labor transfer program expansion plans. The report was issued following increased pressure on multinational companies regarding their complicity in Uyghur forced labor. According to Dr. Zenz, the Chinese government is intensifying its forced labor schemes for the CCP’s cultural assimilation policies of the Uyghur population in East Turkistan, thus exerting full control over people and separating them from their family members. 

96 Year Old Imam Dies in Chinese Prison
On February 26, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported the death of the prominent Uyghur imam, Abidin Damollam, who was detained by the Chinese government in 2017 on charges of ‘promoting religious extremism’ and sentenced to nine years in prison. According to the imam’s granddaughter, the 96-year-old was held in Atush’s Aghu prison and passed away on February 5. Mr. Damollam had been targeted by Chinese authorities since the Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976. His case is also documented in the Uyghur Human Rights Project’s report on China’s persecution of Uyghur imams and religious figures. The UHRP has documented 1,046 cases of Uyghur imams and other religious figures from East Turkistan who have been detained or imprisoned by Chinese authorities since 2014 due to their involvement in religious teaching and community leadership roles.

PARTICIPATE

Join Us on International Women’s Day
On International Women’s Day on March 8, the WUC UK Director, Rahima Mahmut will speak during the René Cassin event on “Weaponization of Faith Against Uyghur Women”.

Join Our HRC Session’s Side Event
Join our joint conference on March 6, on the sidelines of the UN Human Rights Council to discuss the role of defenders in fostering accountability for atrocity crimes. 

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.