NEWS

WUC Congratulates New Elected President of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) welcomed  Penpa Tsering as the new Sikyong (President) of the 17th Parliament-in-Exile of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) while expressing its heartfelt gratitude to former President Dr. Lobsang Sangay. On May 27, Mr. Tsering was sworn in as the second democratically-elected President of the 17th Parliament-in-Exile of the CTA. Next to having been elected to the Parliament of the CTA for two terms in 1996 and 2006, Mr. Tsering was the Parliamentary speaker for two terms between 2008 and 2016.

Italian Parliament Condemns Atrocities against the Uyghurs
On May 26, the Italian Parliament voted unanimously to condemn Chinese atrocities against the Uyghurs, adopting strong language on forced sterilization, repression of religious freedom, forced labor, internment camps, arbitrary detention, and digital surveillance.

China Tests AI Emotion-Detection Software on Uyghurs
On May 26, the BBC reported that Uyghurs have been used as test subjects for a camera system based on AI and facial recognition to detect and analyse human emotions. A software engineer agreed to talk to BBC under the condition of anonymity, since he feared severe reprisals by the Chinese authorities. Nevertheless, he could provide photographs of Uyghurs the system was tested on. 

Niece of Prominent Uyghur Scholar and Linguist Died in Detention
On May 25, Radio Free Asia reported that Mihray Erkin, the niece of prominent Uyghur scholar and linguist-in-exile Abduweli Ayup had died while being investigated by state security police in Kashgar. Mihray Erkin who was studying at Japan’s Nara Institute of Science and Technology was pressured to return home by the Chinese authorities. Her family learned that she died during detention in November 2020, but was threatened by the chinese authorities to remain silent about it.

Crackdown on Uyghurs in Pakistan
On May 21, vice reported that the Pakistan authorities have begun collecting Uyghurs’ biometric data, and threaten to forcibly return them to China, where they are in danger of being imprisoned or sent to an internment camp. An underground railroad into Pakistan has been a route to safety for many Uyghurs. Due to the recent crackdown on Uyghurs in Pakistan, the muslim country is no longer a safe haven for them.  

High Level Conversation with Gulbahar Jalilova
On May 25, International Service for Human Rights and World Uyghur Congress hosted a conversation with camp survivor Gulbahar Jalilova, UN Chair-Rapporteur of UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls, Elizabeth Broderick, and WUC Program and Advocacy Manager, Zumretay Arkin. Gulbahar Jalilova called on the international community to investigate the crimes taking place in East Turkistan. Furthermore the UN should guarantee the freedom of the Uyghuhr people and hold China accountable. “They can’t discredit us. We are telling the truth” she concluded. 

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Petition Calls on Hugo Boss to Stop the Use of Uyghur Forced Labour
Luxury brand Hugo Boss uses Uyghur forced labor in its supply chains. Call on HUGO BOSS to take immediate action & ban forced labor from its supply chain! Please sign the Petition by the Sum of Us and the World Uyghur Congress here!

Uyghur Tribunal
The Uyghur Tribunal chaired by prominent lawyer Sir Geoffrey Nice, will convene in London, UK from June 4-7 to hear the first set of testimonies and review evidence about the situation in East Turkistan. More information and tickets here.