NEWS

The WUC Commemorates the 9th Anniversary of Yarkand Massacre 
On July 28, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) commemorates the victims of the Yarkand Massacre. On 28 July 2014, at least 2000 Uyghurs were killed by Chinese security forces in response to a peaceful protest in three villages of Yarkand County in the Kashgar region of East Turkistan. According to local sources, the death toll in Yarkand was the highest in the Uyghur homeland since the Urumchi uprising five years prior. Uyghurs took to the streets after the police killed an Uyghur family of five in Bashkent Township during a house search. Instead of employing measures to de-escalate the protests, the local authorities responded by violently cracking down on unarmed protestors by killing and detaining them. 

Remembering the Yarkand victims and their families, WUC President Dolkun Isa commented: “Every year, we commemorate victims of different massacres, but the Yarkand massacre remains the deadliest. The international community cannot continue to ignore atrocity crimes and genocide in East Turkistan. These massacres should have been the wake-up call, a sign on the wall for the genocide that would commence shortly after“ Since then, we have witnessed an escalation in violent state policies that have led to millions of Uyghurs and other Turkic people being arbitrarily detained and suffering unspeakable abuses”. The WUC is organising a protest in Munich on July 28 to commemorate the victims of the 2014 Yarkand Massacre. 

The WUC Attends an Interactive Uyghur Diaspora Voices Workshop in Sheffield
Last weekend, the WUC Global Advocacy Officer, Marilena Stegbauer, attended the interactive Uyghur Diaspora Voices Workshop, which was organised by Dr David Tobin, lecturer in East Asian Studies and leading expert on the Uyghur issue, the School of East Asian Studies at Sheffield University and their Art and Humanities Knowledge Exchange Team. The interactive workshop brought together scholars, advocates, policymakers and activists from the U.K., Europe and the U.S together to discuss ways to support the Uyghur community’s struggle with mental health and trauma issues generated by the on-going genocide in East Turkistan manifested through family separation, ill-treatment and torture of the Uyghur community and violent crackdown on Uygur culture, language and religion. The 2-day workshop featured interdisciplinary sessions on intergenerational trauma, measures to preserve the Uyghur identity for future generations, a family reunion of two sisters advocating on behalf of their incarcerated family, Nursiman and Nur’iman Abdureshid, and a film screening of “In Search of My Sister” by Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs.

A New Documentary About the Misuse of Interpol Red Notice
On July 24, Sky News released a short documentary about the case of the Uyghur human rights defender Idris Hasan. Mr Hasan was detained in Morocco in 2021 in response to an Interpol Red Notice issued against him at the Chinese government’s request. Although Interpol quickly cancelled the red notice after realising it violated its rules against political, religious and ethnic persecution, it was too late, and Mr Hasan had already been arrested. According to his wife, despite cancelling the red notice, Interpol did not pressure the Moroccan government into releasing her husband. Mr Hasan’s biggest fear is to be deported to China, which “equals a death sentence as he might be imprisoned indefinitely. Interpol’s Secretary General commented that the organisation is doing everything to protect innocent people from being wrongly targeted through the Interpol system.

Uyghur Forced Labour Disclosure Act Introduced in the U.S.
On July 24, U.S. Representatives Jennifer Wexton and Carlos A. Giménez introduced the bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act (UFLDA), which requires all companies to share information on whether their products are linked to Uyghur Forced Labor in East Turkistan. The act builds on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) of 2022, which prohibits the import of goods mined, produced, or manufactured in East Turkistan. Congresswoman Wexton stated that the UFLDA would help Congress to oppose the Chinese government’s exploitation of Uyghurs. Congressman Giménez said that the law represents American core values: freedom, democracy and human rights. Commenting on the developments, Executive Director of the Campaign for Uyghurs, Rushan Abbas, observed that “by holding companies accountable and ensuring transparency in supply chains, this bill will play a crucial role in identifying and addressing complicit actors, while ensuring the effective implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.” 

Uyghurs in the Diaspora Preserve the Uyghur language by Offering Apprenticeships
Ablikim Emet, an Uyghur calligraphy teacher residing in Boston, shared with The Sun his way of preserving the Uyghur language through apprenticeship programs which the Massachusetts Cultural Council funds. He said that having an apprentice allows him to save his culture. In 2017, the CCP banned the Uyghur language from textbooks and schools in East Turkistan. Mr Emet trains Munawwar Abdulla, co-founder of the Uyghur youth empowerment organisation the Tarim Network in London. Ms Abdulla said that she developed the physical skills and patience required to conduct the design process via the apprenticeship. 

PARTICIPATE

Help the World Uyghur Congress Establish an Uyghur Cultural-Centre
The World Uyghur Congress is raising funds to establish an Uyghur Cultural-Centre in Munich; a dedicated space where the Uyghur community and everyone interested in the Uyghur culture can come together to learn and preserve the rich Uyghur cultural heritage. With the generous support and help of the Uyghur community worldwide, we have already achieved 80 % of the total amount needed to purchase the necessary facilities. Your support can help us to get the final 20 %. Please donate and share! 

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.