NEWS

WUC Hosts Screening of Documentary “In Search of My Sister”
On September 10, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) hosted a special screening of the documentary “In Search of My Sister” at the Uyghur Cultural Centre in Munich. The film tells the harrowing story of Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a Uyghur medical professional who disappeared in 2018, believed to have been detained by Chinese authorities as part of their repression of Uyghurs, and aims to raise awareness of the ongoing Uyghur genocide. Directed by Uyghur-American activist Rushan Abbas, Dr. Abbas’s sister, the documentary exposes the Chinese government’s widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention and forced labour, as part of its genocidal policies against Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples. The film seeks to raise global awareness of the Uyghur Genocide and the personal toll it takes on Uyghur families.

Uyghur Journalist Exposes China’s Transnational Repression and Censorship
On September 11, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) published their interview with Kasim Abdurehim Kashgar, a Uyghur journalist living in exile in the United States, who shared his experiences with the far-reaching repression and censorship imposed by the Chinese regime. Kashgar’s family members were imprisoned in East Turkistan, not because of their own actions, but as retaliation for his investigative work. Despite fleeing to the U.S. in 2017 to escape China’s escalating repression against Uyghurs, the Chinese government continued to target his close contacts. Mr. Kashgar reported that after his refusal to cooperate with Chinese authorities, at least 12 of his former colleagues were arrested, interrogated, and some sentenced to up to seven years in prison. His close friend, Mirkamil Ahmed, was sentenced to nine years. Mr. Kashgar revealed his true identity in the 2023 documentary “From Fear to Freedom: A Uyghur’s Journey,” which aired on Voice of America (VOA), where he works to expose crimes against Uyghurs. China ranks 172nd out of 180 countries on the RSF World Press Freedom Index, making it the largest prison for journalists worldwide.

Australia’s Renewable Energy Push Tied to Uyghur Forced Labour
On September 6, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) released a report exposing the hidden link between Australia’s large-scale battery projects, vital to meeting the country’s renewable energy targets, and Uyghur forced labour. The report specifically highlights the use of materials sourced from Chinese suppliers using Uyghur forced labour in the production of batteries for Australia’s climate goals, such as lithium and cobalt mining operations. The report urges the Australian government to implement stronger legislative or policy measures to ensure that all batteries used in renewable energy projects are free from forced labour. This includes requiring companies to conduct thorough due diligence on their supply chains and ensuring that suppliers are not implicated in the human rights violations of Uyghurs. The report further emphasises the importance of diversifying supply chains and collaborating with international partners to reduce dependency on Chinese suppliers, who dominate the global battery market.

China’s Soft Power Propaganda Shapes Global Perceptions
On September 9, a new investigative report by IJ-Reportika exposed China’s sophisticated soft power propaganda network, which strategically uses cultural exports like films and social media to shape global perceptions and promote a favourable narrative aligned with Chinese Communist Party goals. The report highlights China’s leading position in the global film market, with the highest box office revenue and an extensive network of cinema screens. China’s soft power strategy, articulated by President Xi Jinping, focuses on leveraging its cultural heritage and media to project a favourable global image. This strategy builds on earlier plans, emphasising the promotion of Chinese values and historical legacy to strengthen international influence. Key organisations such as the China International Television Corporation (CITVC), China Radio, Film and Television Programs Exchanging Center (CHNPEC), and the Central Propaganda Department (CPD) play crucial roles in marketing and controlling Chinese media content globally. 

Rights Groups Urge Canadian Government to Sanction Chinese Surveillance Firms
On September 3, three human rights groups accused the Canadian Liberal government of delaying action on their request for targeted sanctions against four China-based surveillance companies. The request stems from a detailed report documenting how the companies’ technology facilitates human rights abuses against Uyghurs, including torture, forced labor, and sexual abuse. In May, the Human Rights Action Group, the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, and the Center for Advanced Defense Studies submitted the 345-page report to Global Affairs Canada and the Privy Council Office. The report calls for sanctions under the “Sergei Magnitsky Law,” which allows Canada to target foreign entities responsible for severe human rights violations. The report identifies Hikvision, Dahua, Tiandy, and Uniview as key enablers of the Chinese government’s surveillance and repression of Uyghurs. Despite similar actions by some of Canada’s allies, Ottawa has not yet moved to ban or sanction these companies, whose products remain widely available in Canada.

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