Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) applauds the US Department of State who condemned China for their oppression of Uyghurs in East Turkistan.
Of all nations mentioned in the US Department of State’s annual report on global religious freedom, China commanded the most attention, foregrounding the Uyghur genocide as one of the most profound examples of religious rights violations today. Uyghurs have paid a steep price for their identity and for their religion as Muslims, and have been separated from loved ones, raped, tortured, forcibly sterilized, made into forced laborers and imprisoned for years.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that China attacks “the activities and personal freedom of religious adherents that it perceived as threatening to state interests.” China ranks almost dead last at the bottom for press freedom and all Uyghurs in the diaspora have been cut off entirely from communication with their friends and loved ones held hostage in China, unable to know their family’s location.
Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of CFU stated “We are pleased to see US Secretary of State Antony Blinken call out China’s gross violations of human rights, genocide and crimes against humanity. China’s war on faith continues as it tries its utmost to eradicate Islam while outlawing all aspects of the normal practise of faith as “radicalization” and “extremism”. China’s designation of Islam as a “disease” shows ther intent in using relgion as a pretext for it is genocide. We expect all other nations to continue the example the United States has set, condemning China for the harm they have done to the innocent people.”
Blinken repeatedly called out China by name on religious rights violations. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain continued this theme, using more time to speak of China than any other nation, saying “There are thousands of Uyghur family members, daughters and sons who are desperate to know where their parents are, but are terrified about what news they might discover and if they will ever be safely united.”
This report was released days before the 33rd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, where pro-democracy students led a mass protest, including CFU Honorary Chairman Wu’er Kaixi. After the violent repression of these protests the world was left in shock at the tight-fisted authoritarian carnage carried out against peaceful protestors.
CFU calls on other nations to follow the example of the United States in recognizing religious freedom as an integral universal right. While this report covered issues of 2021, Uyghur persecution continues today. Other nations must condemn and denounce Chinese regime for the Uyghur genocide and Xi Jinping’s war against freedom and democracy.
CFU is proud to participate in the candlelight vigil for those who paid the ultimate price of freedom on June 4th, 1989. If you are in Washington, D.C. on Friday, June 3rd, join Victims of Communism at 8PM Eastern: Tiananmen Square Massacre Candlelight Vigil | Victims of Communism