NEWS

WUC Delegation Advocates for Uyghur Rights in Türkiye
Last week, a World Uyghur Congress (WUC) delegation visited Ankara, to engage with various stakeholders, including members of the Turkish Parliament, civil society organisations, media, and universities. During these meetings, the WUC urged stakeholders to address and take action on the ongoing Uyghur genocide, emphasizing the need for a unified approach at both domestic and multilateral levels. Furthermore, the WUC highlighted the significant levels of transnational repression faced by the Uyghur community in Türkiye, calling on stakeholders to use their influence to advocate for the rights and protections of one of the largest Uyghur communities in the diaspora, with approximately 50,000 individuals. 

EU Parliament Condemns China’s Human Rights Violations Against Uyghurs
On October 10, the European Parliament passed an urgency resolution addressing the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs, including Ilham Tohti and Dr. Gulshan Abbas. With 540 votes in favour, the resolution condemns the People’s Republic of China’s human rights violations, calls for the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained individuals, and demands an end to abusive policies targeting Uyghurs, including forced labour, surveillance, birth prevention measures, and the destruction of Uyghur identity. It asserts that these actions amount to crimes against humanity and pose a serious risk of genocide. The EU Parliament also urges the EU and its member states to impose additional sanctions on officials involved in these violations, calls for action against transnational repression, and for the prosecution of those responsible. Additionally, the joint resolution calls for China to grant the OHCHR independent access to the region.

In response to the parliament’s actions, the WUC UK Director, Rahima Mahmut, emphasised the importance of international support, stating, “I believe the EU and countries, especially democratic countries like the U.K., should impose sanctions against China for illegally detaining millions of people, putting people on forced labor. This is not a new thing anymore. It’s not news anymore. There are so many other things that the EU and the U.K. government can do to really show their support to the Uyghurs and the Tibetans and the Hong Kongers. We are suffering under this regime for too long,”

China Increases Transnational Repression in Japan
On October 9, Human Rights Watch (HRW) interviewed 25 people from Hong Kong, mainland China, East Turkistan, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia, who are living in Japan and experiencing transnational repression. The Chinese authorities have intensified harassment of critics living abroad, employing tactics such as threats, intimidation, online surveillance, and coercion through family members in China, aimed at silencing dissent and controlling narratives outside China. Many activists report receiving threatening messages, and aggressive tactics such as “fox hunt” operations have emerged, where Chinese authorities attempt to force individuals to return to China, often through family pressure or intimidation. This has created a chilling effect on freedom of expression, with some activists being unable to fully participate in advocacy due to concerns about their safety and potential repercussions against their families back home. In response, HRW urged the Japanese government to take stronger action to protect these individuals and ensure their rights are upheld in the face of foreign intimidation,  emphasising the need for international solidarity to counter such oppressive tactics.

For Uyghurs specifically, Chinese authorities contacted them through relatives in East Turkistan, pressuring them via WeChat to stop anti-China activities in Japan or to share information about Japan’s Uyghur community, including the Japan Uyghur Association. HRW reports have revealed instances where Uyghurs are coerced into spying on fellow community members, turning activism into a space of fear and mistrust.

China Defends Its Policies in East Turkistan Amidst Western Media Criticism
On October 16, Radio Free Asia reported that China hosted a global media summit in Urumchi, East Turkistan, which brought together over 500 participants, including journalists, government agencies, and international organisations. During the summit, which focused on artificial intelligence and the media landscape, Chinese officials criticised Western media coverage of the situation in East Turkistan, claiming that the portrayal of the Uyghur issue is biassed and misrepresents China’s policies in the region. The officials argued that these narratives are driven by political motives and fail to recognize what they describe as the positive developments occurring in East Turkistan. Chinese representatives further emphasised their commitment to economic development and social stability in the region, dismissing allegations of human rights abuses as unfounded. They urged foreign journalists to adopt a more balanced perspective and consider the government’s efforts to combat extremism.

Concerns Grow Over Labour Government’s Commitment to Uyghurs
On October 16, the WUC UK-Director, Rahima Mahmut’s Op-ED was published in The Independent, covering Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s visit to China, revealing that the Labour government intends to enhance trade and investment with the country. Ms. Mahmut expressed her disappointment with the Labour Party’s apparent shift in approach, contrasting it with its previous opposition stance, where it took a firmer line on the Chinese government’s treatment of Uyghurs. She emphasised that the visit signalled Labour’s willingness to prioritise economic relations over its previous commitments to human rights, raising concerns that the Uyghur genocide, might be sidelined. Lammy pledged earlier in 2023 to act multilaterally with international partners to seek recognition of China’s actions as genocide. She noted that the evidence of atrocities committed against Uyghurs is irrefutable, citing reports of mass incarceration, forced labor, suppression of cultural practices, and forced sterilization, all of which constitute genocide under international law. Furthermore, Ms. Mahmut criticised the government’s actions during its first 100 days in power, pointing to its approval of solar farms linked to Uyghur forced labour. She called on Lammy to use trade policy not only for economic growth but also to uphold human rights standards, particularly in relation to China’s human rights abuses.

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