NEWS

World Uyghur Congress President Interviewed by EFSAS
On October 2, during the 54th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva, the World Uyghur Congress President, Dolkun Isa was interviewed  by the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS) Director, Mr. Junaid Qureshi. Mr. Isa spoke about the ethnic and religious discrimination against Uyghurs and Tibetans by the Chinese government. He also highlighted the hypocrisy of Muslim leaders in relation to the Uyghur genocide and China’s territorial expansion in Central Asian countries, as well as the failure of international community and UN bodies to take meaningful action in response to the Uyghur crisis.

On October 10, the World Uyghur Congress together with over 80 human rights organizations sent a joint statement to UN Member States at the General Assembly urging them not to vote for China and to leave an empty seat. Despite the call, the General Assembly elected China as a Council Member among another 14 countries including Albania, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malawi and Netherlands. The representatives were selected for the term 2024-2026. 

World Uyghur Congress Writes Op-Ed in Response to Berliner Zeitung
On October 10, the German Newspaper, Table Media, published an Op-Ed written by the World Uyghur Congress Berlin Director, Haiyuer Kuerban and Senior Project Officer, Eva Stocker, condemning the Chinese propaganda narrative displayed by the Berliner Zeitung. The Berliner Zeitung visited East Turkistan as part of a propaganda tour for journalists, organized by the Chinese government. The article reporting on this tour praised the Chinese governments “economic drive” in East Turkistan, while ignoring the fact that thousands of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples are forced to work in factories and fields under the Chinese governments state-imposed forced labour scheme. 

“The Berliner Zeitung is not concerned with facts and balanced reporting, but with the unfiltered dissemination of Chinese propaganda.”

New Reports Reveal More Industries Complicit in Uyghur Forced Labour
On October 9, the New Yorker published an article on the link between the fishing industry and Uyghur forced labour. The report reveals that the vast labour-transfer programs by the Chinese government forcibly sends Uyghurs to work in industries across China. The article specifically focuses on Uyghurs being forced to process seafood that is then exported to the United States and Europe.

On October 11, another report published by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS), revealed the relation between mineral-mining and Uyghur forced labour. Hundreds of U.S. based entities such as Mattel, Macy’s, Tesla, Apple, and NVIDIA are at risk of violating the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) because of their direct or indirect cooperation with suppliers sourcing gold from mines within East Turkistan. Furthermore, major financial companies like JPMorgan Chase, UBS, and Standard Chartered own mines in East Turkistan are exposed to a high risk of profiting from Uyghur forced labour.

World Uyghur Congress Urges EU to Raise Uyghur Human Rights
On October 12, the WUC issued a press release calling on the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell to speak on the Uyghur genocide and state-imposed forced labour in East Turkistan. During his visit HP/VP Borrell will co-chair the 12th EU-China Strategic Dialogue together with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. 

“High Representative Borrell’s visit to China is a key opportunity to speak on the Uyghur genocide and raise the state-imposed forced labour schemes the Chinese government has enacted on the Uyghurs”, expressed World Uyghur Congress President, Dolkun Isa.

PARTICIPATE

Join the #WritersSupportUyghurs Campaign
The World Uyghur Congress will host an online panel featuring several award-winning and bestselling authors on Tuesday, October 17th, 2023, in response to the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) in China. More information and how to join the #WritersSupportUyghurs Campaign can be found here.

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 donate and 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.