NEWS

World Uyghur Congress Commemorates 1988 Student Protest
On June 14, the World Uyghur Congress commemorated the 36th anniversary of the 1988 pro-democracy Uyghur student protest in Urumchi. The June 15, 1988 protest was a significant large-scale public expression of discontent against the Chinese government’s discriminatory policies toward Uyghurs and laid the foundation for contemporary Uyghur human rights advocacy. The student protest movement, led by Dolkun Isa, Waris Ababekir, and Erkin Tursun, remains a pivotal moment in the struggle for Uyghur rights. In the years since 1988 the repression of Uyghurs has escalated to a genocide and crimes against humanity.

“Thousands of Uyghur students courageously raised their voices against the discriminatory policies of the Chinese government, as we understood the significance of this momentum,” said WUC President, Dolkun Isa. “The entire system operated on discriminatory policies, which  ultimately lead to the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan.”

World Uyghur Congress Announces 8th General Assembly
On June 17, the World Uyghur Congress announced that it will hold its 8th General Assembly in late October. According to the WUC’s by-laws, the General Assembly is convened every three years and serves as a pivotal platform for electing leadership, discussing strategic directions, and developing effective strategies for the next three years. During this year’s assembly, the WUC will welcome 157 elected delegates from 24 countries and see the election of committee directors, board members, and the presidency. From June 10 to June 30, 2024, all Uyghurs aged 18 and above can submit their candidacy as a delegate. 

Against the backdrop of heightened Chinese government propaganda and evolving global geopolitics, WUC President Dolkun Isa stated: “The General Assembly is a vital component of the WUC’s commitment to transparency and representation, providing an opportunity for the Uyghur diaspora to have a say in the leadership and direction of the organisation.”

World Uyghur Congress Interviewed by Finnish Magazine
The World Uyghur Congress President, Dolkun Isa, and Director of Global Advocacy, Zumretay Arkin, were interviewed by a Finnish magazine during their visit to Helsinki at the end of May. Their visit included discussions with parliamentarians and the participation in a corporate responsibility event, aiming to garner support for recognizing the situation as genocide and pushing for stronger international responses, including sanctions and policy actions.

During the interview the WUC highlighted ongoing challenges and genocide faced by Uyghurs in East Turkistan. Despite Chinese claims of closure, Uyghurs remain detained in camps and are transferred to prisons. Moreover, the WUC emphasised how competing global crises and strict censorship have diverted attention from China’s unchecked oppressive policies. Underscoring the global community’s responsibility to address these human rights violations, the WUC stressed that awareness must translate into concrete actions from governments, civil society, and corporations to hold China accountable.

Rights Groups Urge UN High Commissioner to Take Action
On June 20, the World Uyghur Congress, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Service for Human Rights collectively called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, to publicly update the international community on actions taken by his office and the Chinese government in response to the human rights situation in East Turkistan. Emphasising the critical need for accountability following the High Commissioner’s 2022 report, which concluded that violations in the region “may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity”, the organisations underscored that the ongoing absence of detailed updates is detrimental to the trust placed in his office by victims and survivors and impedes meaningful action. Despite international pressure and dozens of recommendations from numerous UN human rights experts and committees, the Chinese government has continued its repression of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims. 

“It is crucial that the Office ensures appropriate follow up on the report, particularly as we approach the second year since the publication,” said Zumretay Arkin, Director of Global Advocacy at the World Uyghur Congress. “This is a key opportunity for the high commissioner to show that atrocity crimes can be addressed meaningfully at the UN. The international community cannot afford to overlook this impunity.”

To commemorate the two-year anniversary of the report’s release, the organisations released informal translations of the report into the remaining five UN languages—Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish—and hosted a side event on June 20 during the 56th Human Rights Council focused on necessary follow-up action to address and advance accountability for rights abuses across China in the context of the adoption of China’s Universal Periodic Review.

World Uyghur Congress Draws Attention to Plight of Uyghur Refugees
On June 20, World Refugee Day, the World Uyghur Congress drew attention to the plight of Uyghur refugees and asylum seekers around the world. Emphasising the cases of Idris Hasan, who has been detained in Morocco since 2021 and is at high risk of extradition to China, and of at least 43 Uyghur refugees held at the IDC Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand since 2014, the WUC urged the international community to uphold the 1951 Refugee Convention and the principle of non-refoulement by immediately halting extraditions of Uyghur refugees to China. Furthermore, the WUC called for robust condemnation of China’s systematic harassment of the Uyghur diaspora and urged the UNHCR to take decisive action to prioritise and protect the safety and rights of Uyghur refugees.

“Uyghurs fleeing persecution and genocide face numerous stresses and vulnerabilities,” says WUC President Dolkun Isa. “They should be protected by the international community and not subjected to further harm. It is crucial that host countries uphold their obligations under international law and safeguard Uyghur refugees from being returned to a regime that seeks to eradicate their identity. It is also the responsibility of the UNHCR to better protect and respond meaningfully to urgent cases.’’

PARTICIPATE 

Join Us for a Special Screening and Q&A: “In Search of My Sister”
On June 24, the Delphi LUX in Berlin will hold a special screening of “In Search of My Sister”, a powerful documentary following human rights activist Rushan Abbas as she uncovers the truth behind her sister’s disappearance and exposes the atrocities against Uyghurs in Chinese ‘re-education camps’.

Join Us on July 5th to Commemorate the Urumchi Massacre
Join the World Uyghur Congress, the UK Uyghur Community and Workers Against the CCP on July 5th to commemorate 15 years since the Urumchi Massacre. For more information visit here.

Run as Delegate in the 8th General Elections of the World Uyghur Congress
Submit your candidacy for the 8th General Elections of the World Uyghur Congress by June 30, 2024! All Uyghurs aged 18 and above are eligible to apply to participate in the delegate elections on July 28, 2024, in your country.