Here's a summary of Uyghur-related news from the past week:
Uyghur culture, cuisine come alive at California restaurant
Kusan Uyghur Cuisine, a restaurant in San Jose, California, has been serving authentic Uyghur food for four years. The restaurant is run by Uyghur brothers who aim to introduce their culture and food to those who may not be familiar with it.
Activists: Chinese public service video perpetuates racist stereotypes
A Chinese government public service video depicting a Uyghur actor as a drug dealer preying on Chinese women has sparked controversy for perpetuating racist stereotypes. This portrayal is ironic and painful for Uyghurs, who historically have been victims of drug trafficking, according to activists and researchers interviewed by Radio Free Asia.
China, US clash at UN event over accusations of Uyghur persecution
China accused the United States of politicizing a U.N. event against Islamophobia after the U.S. ambassador drew attention to China's treatment of its Uyghur minority. The Chinese ambassador accused the U.S. of trying to sow discord between China and Muslim nations. The U.S. ambassador cited the treatment of Uyghurs in China as an example of discrimination and violence against Muslims, while China rejected the accusations, calling them "baseless" and accusing the U.S. of committing genocide against Native Americans and war crimes in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.
News in brief
Carlsberg, a multinational brewing company, has been accused of being complicit in mistreatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China, where it has owned the Xinjiang Wusu Beer Group since 2015. Abduweli Ayup, a human rights activist, told VOA that he has witnessed Uyghur men being forced to consume Wusu beer during Ramadan in 2015. Carlsberg told VOA that the allegations were unfounded and that they prohibit the use of any form of forced labor. However, some experts on Uyghur human rights have criticized Carlsberg's operations in the region as unethical.
Quote of note
“We have also determined that the Chinese government has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. The international community must continue to condemn these atrocities. We must continue to demand accountability. And we must continue to call for all those unjustly detained in the PRC to be released and reunited with their families.” – Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., speaking at U.N. event against Islamophobia
