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WEEKLY BRIEF, JANUARY 20

WEEKLY BRIEF, JANUARY 20

World Uyghur Congress, 20 January 2020

Six years since Professor Ilham Tohti was arrested 

Six years ago, on 15 January 2014, Professor Ilham Tothti was arrested by the Chinese authorities and sentenced to a life in prison in September.

Ilham Tohti, a renowned Uyghur economics professor and advocate for the rights of the Uyghur people, constructively raised numerous issues the Uyghur people faced and worked diligently to foster dialogue between Uyghurs and Han for over two decades. Professor Tohti established the Uyghurbiz.net in 2006, a website that encouraged conversation between Uyghurs and Chinese as a means of reconciliation between the two groups. Due to his remarkable engagement for peace and reconciliation, Ilham Tothti was bestowed  with the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament.

Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2020

15 January 2020 – Human Rights Watch (HRW) launched their annual world report 2020 in New York. In their report HRW holds China accountable for illegally detaining millions of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in internment camps, and for creating an Orwellian high-tech surveillance state using  DNA samples and big data analysis. 

Furthermore, according to the HRW report, China uses its economic and diplomatic power to prevent international initiatives holding China accountable for its massive human rights violations in order to protect its international image. At international organizations like the UN, Chinese authorities are repeatedly threatening and intimidating other member states. Kenneth Roth, executive director at HRW, said at the World Report 2020 release “the Chinese government is carrying out an intense attack on the global system for defending human rights”. Moreover, “to protect everyone’s future, governments need to act together to resist Beijing’s assault on the international human rights system”, he urged the international community.

China’s threat against the WUC

This week the WUC issued a press release in  response to the increasing direct attacks by the Chinese government against WUC. In an effort to undermine the work of the WUC, the Chinese government has been increasingly attacking the WUC directly through propaganda newspapers, spreading disinformation, targeting the family of WUC President Dolkun Isa and making veiled threats. 

Despite these recent developments, the WUC will not be intimidated and will continue to advocate for the rights and well-being of all Uyghurs suffering in East Turkistan. Regardless of  the pain and sacrifices, Uyghur activists must be resilient in the face of this violence and aggression in the hope that our efforts lead to a brighter future for all people in East Turkistan who long for their basic rights and freedoms. 

Forced modernization of Uyghur home

According to Radio Free Asia, Uyghurs are forced by Chinese authorities to “modernize” their homes. The so called “Sanxin Huodong” or “Three New” campaign  pressures Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities to abandon their traditional ethnic decor. Majority Han Chinese entrepreneurs are benefitting from the replacement of rugs and pillows traditionally used as furniture with sofas, beds and desks. China keeps continuing the systematic destruction of Uyghur cultural heritage and social life.