Here's a summary of Uyghur-related news from around the world this week.
US Condemns Life Sentence for Uyghur Scholar Rahile Dawut
The United States has strongly criticized China for reportedly sentencing Uyghur academic Rahile Dawut to life in prison, denouncing it as a grave injustice. Dawut, a respected cultural anthropologist and ethnographer, had been detained since December 2017. This sentencing was part of a broader pattern of Chinese authorities in Xinjiang targeting Uyghur intellectuals, with over 300 individuals facing detention, arrest or imprisonment since 2016. International institutions and experts have called for her release, while China denies accusations of abuses against the Uyghur minority.
Protesters in Tokyo Unite Against China's Alleged Human Rights Abuses
On the 74th anniversary of the People's Republic of China's founding last Sunday, protesters in Tokyo from various minority communities and Japanese supporters united to denounce alleged human rights abuses by China. The demonstrators, representing Tibet, Uyghurs, Inner Mongolia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, voiced their concerns about what they termed as repression, genocide and expansionist policies by the Chinese government. Fear of overseas Chinese police stations in Japan monitoring and intimidating Chinese citizens abroad was also expressed. Participants, including a university student from Hong Kong, wore masks and sunglasses to protect their identities. They emphasized the importance of continuing their fight despite challenges.
Protests in Bangladesh Demand Justice for Uyghurs
Protests Monday in Dhaka and Narayanganj, Bangladesh, demanded justice for Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang in northwest China. The National Ulema Mashaikh Parishad and Sachetan Nagrik Samaj organized rallies, urging global support against alleged Chinese atrocities against Uyghurs. About 300 protesters highlighted Uyghur Muslims' plight with banners and placards. This came after the U.S. condemned China's life sentence for Uyghur academic Rahile Dawut, accused of "endangering state security." Rights advocates allege a mass internment campaign and abuses against Uyghurs, including forced sterilization and cultural repression, while China denies the allegations.
US Congressional Agency Asks NBA to Break Ties With Uyghur Forced Labor
The chairs of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China have sent letters to the NBA and the union representing its players, the National Basketball Players Association, questioning their business dealings with China and urging them to avoid products made with Uyghur forced labor or materials from Xinjiang. These letters followed a hearing on corporate complicity in human rights violations in China, where former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom testified about efforts to silence criticism of China's human rights record. The letters sought clarification on how these organizations will prevent the spread of Chinese censorship values in the U.S., expressing disappointment with a prior response from the NBPA on this issue in 2021.
Quote of note
"In many ways, Rahile Dawut is a living embodiment of contemporary Uyghur studies. She possesses the knowledge, resources and contacts that allowed her students and colleagues to thrive in this budding field. To be sure, her detainment is, of course, first and foremost an unacceptable abuse of power and tragedy to Prof Dawut, her family and students, but it is devastating blow to the field."
— Tim Grose, a Uyghur studies professor at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana
