NEWS

World Uyghur Congress Condemns Deepening Relations Between OIC and CCP
On January 4, the World Uyghur Congress issued a press release condemning the strengthening relationship between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). On January 3, a senior official of the CCP regional committee of Xinjiang, Mr. Ilzat Ahmatjan was welcomed by the Secretary-General of the OIC, H.E. Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha in the OIC headquarters in Jeddah. During their meeting the relations between the CCP and the OIC were discussed as well as the situation of the Muslim community in China. Despite the Chinese government’s anti-Islamic campaign under which millions of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples have been arbitrarily detained, 8000 mosques have been demolished, and Islamic practices and values have been criminalised, the OIC continues to deepen ties with China, and fails to recognize the atrocity crimes committed against Uyghurs. 

“The OIC continues to act in complete disregard to the ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslims in East Turkistan and willingly supports the CCP’s prohibition, criminalization and punishment of Islam,” said WUC President Dolkun Isa. “It is abhorrent that a CCP official visits a holy land and is offered an opportunity to whitewash its genocide.’’

Academic Paper on Uyghurs Retracted Over Ethical Concerns
On December 29, an article by The Guardian highlighted concerns over the lack of ethical vetting standards for academic research published. This comes after a Dutch academic publisher retracted a study, which used blood and saliva samples of Uyghurs and Kazakhs to evaluate the use of genetic sequencing technology, developed by US biotech company Thermo Fisher. The article was removed from the Forensic Science International: Genetics (FSR) journal after an investigation found that ethical approval had not been obtained during the collection of genetic data. There has been increased scrutiny regarding the failure to meet ethical standards for scientific research based on populations not able to provide free and informed consent.

Camp Survivors Try To Rebuild Their Lives
On December 28, The Guardian published a series of photos of Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek and Dungan camp survivors, who have escaped the Chinese concentration camps and fled to Kazakhstan for refuge. The article describes the individual stories of survivors, who have faced physical, mental and sexual violence alongside forced labour inside the camps. It details their struggles, as they are trying to rebuild their lives and uphold their traditions. The article furthermore sheds light on the various arbitrary reasons used by the Chinese authorities to detain and imprison Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in East Turkistan. 

Uyghurs Employed as Slave Workers
According to RFA, China has employed 456,000 Uyghurs in East Turkistan during the first ten months of 2023, as part of its “poverty alleviation” program. The local authorities claim that their campaign aims to increase income and create a “happy and harmonious” society for the local community. However, China is forcing Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples to work. Many detained and formally detained Uyghurs are subjected to forced labour schemes by the government, as ways to exert control, surveillance and indoctrination. “The primary objective of such arrangements is to subject them to Chinese surveillance and control throughout their workday, ultimately aiming at eradicating the Uyghur nation,” said Hesen Kokbore, vice chairman of the executive committee of the World Uyghur Congress. 

PARTICIPATE

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.