Campaign for Uyghurs Press Release
For Immediate Release
June 20, 2020 10:00 AM EST
Contact: contact@old.campaignforuyghurs.org
www.campaignforuyghurs.org
World Refugee Day is devoted to raising awareness of the situation of refugees across the globe. Campaign for Uyghurs acknowledges the difficulties faced, in particular, by Uyghur refugees fleeing extermination by the Chinese Communist regime. This year the Chinese government brought added hardships for them with the spread of Covid19. While the entire world suffers as a result of China’s negligence and willful intention of covering up responsibility and spending money to spread disinformation, Uyghurs have faced increasingly impossible circumstances.
The continually dire financial circumstances of many refugees are made worse by the impossibility of finding job opportunities. Any previous employment has been impacted greatly by the spread of Covid19 and the resultant slowing global economy. For Uyghurs already cut off from communicating with loved ones in their homeland, they struggle to care for themselves and their families with little financial support from anyone.
In addition to the world overlooking and even rewarding the Chinese government’s crimes against them, they are ignored and even oppressed by the rest of the world. Taking concrete action to help refugees is important, but doing our part to end complicity in the circumstances that necessitate their seeking refuge is also essential. Today we call on humanity to lend a hand to the suffering Uyghurs, and to end the repression that drives them from their families and their homeland. No country can in good conscience continue to profit from friendly relationships with China. As Campaign for Uyghurs Executive Director, Rushan Abbas, stated, “Uyghurs did not just flee the persecution of the Chinese government, we were forced to abandon our families and loved ones, our homes, our belongings and our memories. Nobody chooses to leave their home unless their home has been turned into a living hell.”
In commitment to linking arms with our Uyghur refugee sisters, Campaign for Uyghurs is also excited to announce the launch of “Uyghurs are Beautiful”, our new project which aims to provide support for Uyghur refugee women. We look forward to honoring their journeys and sufferings through mutual empowerment and holding onto the hope that we can have when we walk through life together. This World Refugee Day we want the Uyghur community to know that they are not alone.