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Agence France-Presse

An exiled Uygur leader called for more concerted international pressure on China to end its mass detention of the ethnic group as he received a US award.
The National Endowment for Democracy, which is funded by the US Congress to promote democracy worldwide, gave its annual award to the World Uygur Congress as well as the Tibet Action Institute and ChinaAid, a Christian human rights group headed by pastor Bob Fu.
The Democracy Award – whose statuette resembles the Goddess of Democracy erected by students in Tiananmen Square in 1989 – was presented on Tuesday night on the 30th anniversary of China’s crushing of the student protests, which left hundreds if not more dead.
Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uygur Congress, which says it represents the interests of Uygurs both under Chinese rule and overseas, said the award offered a morale boost to the group, which Beijing has branded a terrorist organisation.




“Maybe this award will bring more support for the Uygur cause from the international community,” Isa said at the ceremony.
“Some countries like the US and European countries are speaking out. But many Muslim countries continue not only their silence but supporting the Chinese repression toward the Uygurs. It’s a real disappointment and shame because we are Muslims facing religious persecution.”
China has rounded up more than 1 million Uygurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic peoples in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, according to estimates cited by a UN panel.
How Airbnb discriminates against China’s ethnic minorities
The United States has drawn parallels to Nazi Germany and denounced the “concentration camps”. But Isa said the United States should go further and impose sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for the policy, a step supported by a number of US lawmakers.
“Just speaking out on this issue isn’t good enough. We ask Western governments to take concrete action and sanction high-level officials,” he said.
“Otherwise the Chinese will not stop and will continually expand these camps.”
China has denounced the Western criticism, calling it inaccurate and interference in its affairs, and was angered when the United States invited Isa to address a United Nations forum.

China says it is providing vocational training to prevent the spread of Islamic extremism.
But Isa said China was suppressing freedom of religion. He cited accounts that China had demanded that Uygurs not pray or fast during the holy month of Ramadan and forced them to eat pork and drink alcohol, both forbidden by Islam.
“If you refuse, they say you’re radicalised,” he said.
China slams US for trying to deprive it of UN forum seat over Uygur centres
US Representative Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, presented the award to Isa and described the camps as an “attempt to stamp out Uygur identity”, saying Uygurs who are not detained “live in an open-air prison”.
“It is long past time for the world to send a clear message that the Chinese government cannot perpetrate these abuses with impunity,” McGovern said.


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Xinjiang

Uygur leader Dolkun Isa urges pressure on China as he receives US award

Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uygur Congress, in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Uighur men make their way past a subway entrance after Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of Ramadan, at the Id Kah mosque in Kashgar, in China's western Xinjiang region early on June 5, 2019. - While Muslims around the world celebrated the end of Ramadan with early morning prayers and festivities this week, the recent destruction of dozens of mosques in Xinjiang highlights the increasing pressure Uighurs and other ethnic minorities face in the heavily-policed region. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) / To go with AFP story China-politics-rights-religion-Xinjiang, FOCUS by Eva Xiao and Pak Yiu

China slams US for trying to deprive Beijing of UN forum seat over Uygur detentions in Xinjiang

Police patrol a night food market near the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar in June 2017. Photo: AFP

(FILES) This file photo taken on June 26, 2017 shows Muslim men arriving at the Id Kah Mosque for the morning prayer on Eid al-Fitr in the old town of Kashgar in China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. - Chinese authorities are using a mobile app designed for mass surveillance to profile, investigate and detain Muslims in Xinjiang by labelling "completely lawful" behaviour as suspicious, a Human Rights Watch report said. Beijing has come under international criticism over its policies in the northwest region of Xinjiang, where as many as one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities are being held in internment camps, according to a group of experts cited by the UN. (Photo by JOHANNES EISELE / AFP)

Dolkun Isa, Secretary General of the World Uyghur Congress speaks to an AFP reporter during an interview in Tokyo on May 2, 2008. Dolkun Isa is here to protest against upcoming visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP)

One of China’s most senior Uygur officials to face trial on corruption charges

Nur Bekri was one of the highest ranking Uygur officials in China. Photo: AFP

(141210) -- LANGFANG, Dec. 10, 2014 (Xinhua) -- Liu Tienan (C), a former senior economic planning official, stands trial at the Langfang Intermediate People's Court in Langfang, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 10, 2014. Liu Tienan,  former deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission and former head of the National Energy Administration, was convicted of bribery and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Langfang Intermediate People's Court on Dec. 10. (Xinhua/Langfang Intermediate People's Court) (lfj)

Chinese nationalist group stages two-hour ‘attack’ on Uygur websites

Diba distributed memes, pictures and messages from official brochures for its supporters to use in the bombardment. Photo: Handout

Memes used by members. Chinese netizens attacked the Facebook pages of the World Uygur Congress (WUC) and online media outlet Talk to East Turkestan on Wednesday night, flooding the comment sections with memes, pictures and messages Êto "protect nationality sovereignty, attack extremists and dispel malicious rumours".ÊBoth organisations advocate the rights of Uygurs, an ethnic minority in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region, and support independence.Ê

Screenshot of comments on WUC fb page. Chinese netizens attacked the Facebook pages of the World Uygur Congress (WUC) and online media outlet Talk to East Turkestan on Wednesday night, flooding the comment sections with memes, pictures and messages Êto "protect nationality sovereignty, attack extremists and dispel malicious rumours".ÊBoth organisations advocate the rights of Uygurs, an ethnic minority in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region, and support independence.Ê

UN diplomats and activists describe Chinese pressure and ‘threats’ over Uygur event at UN rights council

Yu Jianhua, head of China's mission to the UN Office in Geneva, Switzerland, wrote to fellow diplomats last month urging them to stay away from a US-organised event on March 13 about China’s treatment of Uygurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. He is seen speaking during the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 13. Photo: Xinhua

Dolkun Isa, President of the World Uyghur Congress attends an event concerning China ahead of the Human Rights Council review in Geneva, Switzerland, November 2, 2018. Picture taken November 2, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

News

China

The National Endowment for Democracy, which is funded by the US Congress, gave an award to the World Uygur Congress, the Tibet Action Institute and ChinaAid


The National Endowment for Democracy, which is funded by the US Congress, gave an award to the World Uygur Congress, the Tibet Action Institute and ChinaAid.


Human rights in China

Human rights

Ramadan