NEWS

UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions Publishes Opinion on Yalqun Rozi
On December 20th, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions (WGAD) announced its opinion on renowned Uyghur writer Yalqun Rozi. The working group found the deprivation of liberty of Yalqun Rozi to be arbitrary, considering that “the appropriate remedy would be to release Mr. Rozi immediately”. 

Yalqun Rozi was taken from his home in Urumchi by police officers on 6 October 2016 without a warrant. In February 2017, his family received an internal document stating that he “was suspected of committing the crime of ‘inciting separation of the nation’”. Sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, Rozi is currently being held in prison in Urumchi. 

In the WGAD opinion, it is mentioned that China is violating its international human rights obligations in over 90 cases, indicating a “systematic problem with arbitrary detentions in China”. The working group expressed its wishes to conduct a country visit to China, while recalling the OHCHR assessment of 31 August 2022.

Uyghur Nutritionist Behtiyar Sadir Confirmed Detained 
On December 21st, Radio Free Asia reported that Uyghur nutritionist Behtiyar Sadir had been arrested by authorities in East Turkistan. The member of the Xinjiang Association of Health and Nutrition had gone missing in mid-October 2022 during the tight COVID lockdown measures. The arrest is based “on suspicion of revealing state secrets” after having shared pictures on WeChat, which might be in relation to the lockdown restrictions. 

Sadir has previously been under surveillance in 2017 and 2018 and prevented from speaking to his siblings, who live abroad. They have been the ones noticing Sadir’s disappearance after his WeChat activities stopped. 

Uyghur Artist Marwayit Hapiz in Interview with Radio Free Asia
On December 19th, Radio Free Asia (RFA) published an interview with world-famous Uyghur painter Marwayit Hapiz. The artist is known for her oil paintings, depicting Uyghur life and customs, and used to teach painting courses at Xinjiang Normal University in Urumqi before moving to Germany in 1996 to develop her work. 

In the interview, Hapiz explains she does not depict Uyghur suffering, despite the gross atrocities committed by the CCP and some of her family members being arrested in East Turkistan, but instead focuses on Uyghur culture, as a way of preserving it. “I wanted to let Uyghurs everywhere know that we are a nation with a rich culture and humane soul and spirit as good as any other. And I wanted this Uyghur pride to be known among Uyghurs worldwide.”

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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 historical case.

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.