- October 20, 2023
Dolkun Isa, the President of the World Uyghur Congress, has issued a call to the United Nations for the establishment of a special rapporteur dedicated to investigating and holding accountable those responsible for the illegal practice of transnational repression (TNR), with a particular focus on China’s government.
Transnational Repression (TNR) is a tactic employed by the Chinese government to suppress individuals critical of the regime who are living outside of China. The FBI defines TNR as “when foreign governments stalk, intimidate, or assault people in the United States.” This practice has serious implications for human rights and international security.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its United Front operatives employ various strategies to harass and intimidate Uyghurs living abroad, manifesting in different forms of harassment. This includes monitoring and intimidation through social messaging apps, intimidating phone calls to extract personal information, and threats against those who dare to speak out. In some cases, Uyghurs have been coerced into becoming informants for China. This pervasive and far-reaching transnational repression orchestrated by Chinese authorities is a serious concern.
One of the most prominent cases of transnational repression is that of Dolkun Isa, the President of the World Uyghur Congress. For two decades, he has been labeled as a “terrorist” wanted by INTERPOL, leading to his arrest, detention, interrogation, and humiliation at numerous country borders, including within the European Union.
Transnational repression is a tool employed by authoritarian regimes worldwide to silence dissident voices. It is imperative that the international community condemns this practice and takes appropriate measures to address this growing issue affecting dissident communities.
On the occasion of his book launch, titled “Freedom Trap: My Life on the Run,” in Westminster, Dolkun Isa called for the creation of a special rapporteur on transnational repression at the United Nations. This step is crucial for investigating and holding those responsible for these illegal practices accountable.
