Genocide and crimes against humanity in East Turkistan

Press Release – For Immediate Release
09 December 2024
Contact: World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
+49 89 5432 1999 or [email protected]

On this day, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) remembers all victims of the Uyghur genocide. The Uyghur Tribunal was established in June 2020, at the request of the WUC’s President Dolkun Isa, to document the atrocity crimes committed by China against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Turkic Muslim populations of East Turkistan. This independent tribunal, composed of attorneys, academics, and NGO representatives and led by the renown Sir Geoffrey Nice, sought to investigate allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity in East Turkistan. 

“Today, we mourn those who have lost their lives in this genocide, and remember those who are still detained, disappeared or coerced into labour,” said WUC President, Turgunjan Alawdun. ”But today, we are also calling on the United Nations and the international community to act, as we gather here in Geneva, in front of the UN”. 

The Tribunal released its Judgment on December 9, 2021, following in-person hearings in June, September, and November 2021. Its expert panel reviewed over 500 witness statements, heard live testimony from more than 30 witnesses including a former Chinese police officer-, and consulted with 40 expert witnesses. The Tribunal concluded that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the Uyghur people. This judgment has since served as a foundation for at least 10 parliaments worldwide to formally recognize these atrocities as such. To honor the victims and ensure their suffering is never forgotten, December 9th was proclaimed as Uyghur Genocide Remembrance Day by the then President of WUC, Mr. Dolkun Isa. 

Millions of Uyghurs have been arbitrarily detained in concentration camps, where they are subjected to torture, sexual violence, rape, malnutrition, forced labour, coercive birth prevention policies, family separation, mass surveillance, and the destruction of cultural and religious sites. Despite the significant efforts by academics, NGOs, and supporters of the Uyghur community to expose these atrocities, much remains to be done. The ongoing repression in East Turkistan is marked by a wide range of heinous practices, including gender-based violence, where women endure extreme physical torture and sexual abuse. These women are also subjected to a systematic strategy of mass birth prevention, which involves forced sterilizations, intrauterine device (IUD) placements, and forced abortions, all aimed at erasing Uyghur identity. Furthermore, widespread family separations continue, with children of detained parents forcibly taken and placed in state-run orphanages, cutting them off from their culture and heritage.

Despite significant victories like Volkswagen’s exit from East Turkistan, which resulted from the tireless efforts of human rights activists, academics, and governments, forced labour practices continue on a large scale. Recent investigations, such as the BBC’s report, revealed that tomato purées labeled as “Italian” in UK and German supermarkets likely contain tomatoes harvested by Uyghur forced labour in East Turkistan and exported via China. This underscores the urgent need for stronger legislation to prevent countries from becoming dumping grounds for products linked to forced labour.

Equally concerning is China’s transnational repression, which extends its control far beyond East Turkistan to silence Uyghurs living in exile. These actions not only threaten Uyghur activists and refugees but also undermine the national security and democratic values of the countries where such intimidation takes place. A unified global response is essential to address this growing threat and protect Uyghur communities from persecution, both at home and abroad.

As we commemorate International Human Rights Day on December 10th, the global community is reminded of its duty to uphold justice, freedom, and dignity for all. These twocommemorations call on us to stand together against genocide, forced labour, and transnational repression. The World Uyghur Congress urges governments, international organizations, and civil society to:

• Demand the immediate closure of the camps and the release of all detainees.
• Stop mass birth prevention practices targeting Uyghurs and other Turkic populations.
• End forced labour practices and ban imports linked to Uyghur exploitation.
• Increase accountability for transnational repression and protect Uyghur exiles and activists.
• Provide protection for Uyghur refugees and asylum seekers worldwide.

The work ahead is monumental, requiring unwavering determination and collective action. The World Uyghur Congress calls on people worldwide not to forget the ongoing plight of the Uyghurs, even as global agendas shift rapidly and new crises dominate headlines. On these two significant days, let us renew our commitment to amplifying the voices of the oppressed, defending their rights, and pursuing justice.