NEWS

World Uyghur Congress Celebrates East Turkistan National Day
On November 12, the World Uyghur Congress joined the global Uyghur Community in celebrating East Turkistan National Day and the establishment of the two former independent republics – the Islamic Republic of East Turkistan (established on November 12, 1933 in Kashgar), and the Republic of East Turkistan (established on November 12, 1944 in Ghulja). 

“Today, we come together in commemoration and celebration of a brighter future for a democratic East Turkistan. Uyghurs in East Turkistan have been deprived of their voice and right to live in a democratic state by the Chinese government, therefore, those of us living outside of the rule of the CCP must loudly raise ours on their behalf”, said World Uyghur Congress President, Dolkun Isa. 

In Europe, the Uyghur community gathered in Oslo, Norway to celebrate, and festivities and demonstrations were held in different cities around the world. The World Uyghur Congress furthermore reiterates its commitment to promote the rights of the Uyghur people and calls on the international community for stronger actions to end the Chinese government’s atrocities against Uyghurs.

Chinese Embassy Rejects Request to Release Uyghur Man
On November 13, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on the decision of the Chinese Embassy in Turkey to not reunite an Uyghur man with his family in Istanbul. Mexmutjan Memet, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on unknown charges. According to Mexmutjan’s wife, he suffers from heart disease, high blood pressure and has liver issues. He is currently being treated in a hospital inside Korla prison. As his health conditions have not improved since August, Mr. Memet’s wife sent a letter to a Chinese Embassy in Istanbul requesting an immediate release of her husband. Her letter was returned to her unopened. 

World Uyghur Congress Concerned About New Hikvision Project
On November 14, the World Uyghur Congress issued a press release criticising the latest project of the Chinese government sponsored enterprise Hikvision. A new report published by Internet Protocol Video Market (IPVM) sheds light on Hikvision being awarded $9m for the development of their “Smart Campus” project designed for Minjiang University, which will include surveillance features that alert administrators when “ethnic minority” students, particularly Muslims, are suspected of fasting during Ramadan. The comprehensive surveillance system will track various aspects of students’ lives, ranging from dining records to holiday destinations and family information. 

The World Uyghur Congress is severely concerned about the potential human rights violations this project could create, given the widespread abuses against Uyghurs enabled by Hikvision technology. “Hikvision has since 2016 provided the Chinese government with mass surveillance technology to monitor Uyghurs, including inside concentration camps and in mosques. This new system will allow for the CCP to further crackdown on Muslim communities and help facilitate the Uyghur genocide”, said World Uyghur Congress President Dolkun Isa.

Forced Intermarriage in East Turkistan
On November 14, Radio Free Asia (RFA) published about the creation of a matchmaking app that aims to set up single Uyghur women with Han Chinese men. For a fee of 15-yuan (US$2) the company, which is backed by the Urumchi Civil Affairs Bureau, will provide customers with information about the Uyghur women. Based on the 2022 report by the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) the Chinese government’s campaign to promote Uyghur-Han intermarriage has been increasing since 2018 and is part of the governments forced assimilation of Uyghurs into the dominant Han Chinese culture. 

PARTICIPATE

Join the World Uyghur Congress President for the Canadian Launch of The China Freedom Trap
On November 20, the World Uyghur Congress President, Dolkun Isa, together with an Executive Director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, Mehmet Tohti, and CEO of China Democracy Fund, Dean Baxendale are organising an event on the launch of the Mr. Isa’s book called “The China Freedom Trap”. The story details the incredible journey of a man on the run from the Chinese Communist Party. Please sign here before November 19th.

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.