Recent Activities
WUC vice president makes presentations during several large conferences During the first two weeks of April, at special invitation by Turkish civil society groups, the WUC vice president, Seyit Tumturk, made presentations about the Uyghur human rights situation at large conferences in several cities in the Turkish Province of Sakaya. WUC affiliates organize commemorative events for Barin uprising Affiliate organisations of the WUC all around the world including Canada, Japan, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey, took part in demonstrations and other events in commemoration of the 23rd Anniversary of the Barin Uprising. WUC president calls on US and Chinese authorities to respect human rights In her interview with the Radio Free Asia, the WUC president, Ms. Rebiya Kadeer, called upon the US and Chinese authorities to respect and guarantee the human rights of the Uyghur people in their anti-terror cooperation. She also outlined some of the more persistent problems, including the plight of Uyghur refugees as well as recent curbs on religious freedom, and voiced some of her recommendations for a possible solution. WUC vice president discusses Uyghur situation on Turkish television On April 9, WUC vice president, Seyit Tumturk, attended a live broadcasting by Kayseri and Erciyes TV respectively and discussed the Uyghur human rights issue. The appearance allowed for greater reach of Uyghur issues, particularly those involving Uyghur refugees currently helf in Thailand and Malaysia. WUC leader discusses Uyghur situation on French television On April 18, the president of the France Uyghur Committee, Erkin Ablimit, attended a live broadcast by French national TV and discussed the Uyghur human rights situation. Mr. Ablimit discussed issues ranging from the refugee situation in Thailand and Malaysia, to what the French government is able to do in relation to China and its observance of human rights norms. WUC vice president meets with leaders of Turkey’s oppositions parties On April 20, the WUC vice president, Seyit Tumturk, met with Mr. Mustafa Kamalak and Mustafa Desici, the leaders of Turkish opposition parties (The Felicity Party and The Great Union Party), who were visiting the East Turkestan Culture and Solidarity Association in Kayseri. During the talks, Mr. Tumturk briefed the guests on the recent human rights situation of the Uyghur people in East Turkestan and appealed to the Turkish politicians to do more for a de-escalation of the situation in the region and elsewhere. Uyghur society in Kyrgyzstan convene elections On April 19, the members of the “Ittipak” Uyghur Society of the Kyrgyz Republic convened its 8th General Assembly in Bishkek and democratically elected its new round of leadership under its current president, Mr. Artiq Hajiyev. WUC vice president meets with members of Turkish Parliament The WUC vice president, Seytit Tumturk, visited several Members of the Turkish Parliament who have been supporting the Uyghur cause and whose mandate will end this June. He expressed great aspirations of the Uyghur people and the WUC for their strong supports to raise awareness to the Turkish Parliament and the government towards the human rights situations of the Uyghur people in East Turkestan. WUC president authors joint article with Freedom House President A joint article titled, The Uyghurs’ Plight: Lessons about China, written by WUC president Ms. Rebiya Kadeer and president of Freedom House Mr. Mark P. Lagon, was published on April 22 on the websites of both the WUC and Freedom House. WUC Executive Committee Chairman attend interethnic/interfaith conference The Chairman of the WUC Executive Committee, Mr. Dolkun Isa, attended the 10th Interethnic Interfaith Leadership Conference in Washington, DC that took place from April 27-30. In addition to raising the Uyghur issue, Mr. Isa also met with Tibetan and Chinese democracy activists to exchange experience and strategy during the conference. The two parties are seeking to advance mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation among the diverse ethnic, religious, cultural, and regional groups seeking a better China. WUC vice president makes presentation at Turkish University On April 29, at special invitation, the WUC vice president, Seytit Tumturk, made a presentation about the situation of the Uyghur people in East Turkestan at a conference at the Karabük University in Turkey. The event was attended by more than 500 people from various backgrounds. WUC president testifies at a US human rights hearing Rebiya Kadeer testified at the Subcommittee hearing on the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act along with the Executive Vice President of Freedom House, the President of the Hudson Institute and the CEO of Hermitage Capital Management. During the hearing, Ms. Kadeer raised the Uyghur issue to the panel in relation to global human rights issues.
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