IHRC is calling upon campaigners to write to the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) to demand they take action against China for its persecution of the Uighurs.
Background
Action required
Model template
Recipient addresses
Background
IHRC has published a new report into the massive social engineering campaign being carried out by Chinese authorities against the Uighur inhabitants of its north western Xinjiang province.
The report titled “Grief Observed: Uighur Testimonies” is the culmination of a series of interviews IHRC undertook last year with Uighurs now resident in Turkey. IHRC estimates several million Uighurs have passed through the detention camps making this an industrial scale campaign to destroy the Uighur identity and their attachment to Islam.
Muslims are repeatedly required to provide biometric information at regular police checkpoints, face blanket CCTV surveillance and have their telephone and online activity monitored. Those who show any signs of religiosity are systematically targeted, even to the extent that teachers routinely probe schoolchildren to find out if their parents practise their faith at home.
“From arresting people for teaching the Quran, to accusing people of sedition for distributing charitable donations to the poor, the repression of Islam is systematic. China is actively and methodically repressing all expressions of normative Islam amongst the Uighurs,” says the report.
Among the report’s recommendations is that China immediately ends its campaign of repression and shuts down the detention camps. Beijing should also should allow free and unfettered access to suspected camps to the UN and allow the return those who have been forced into exile without any prospect of recriminations.
The full report is available to read here: https://www.ihrc.org.uk/publications/reports/26146-grief-observed-uighur-testimonies/
The full press release can be found here:
Action Required
- Please write to the Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to demand they take action for the Uighurs. A model letter / email and addresses are provided below.
- Forward any responses you receive to us on info@ihrc.org so we can develop this campaign further.
- Share this alert and the reports and resources, and encourage others to join this campaign.
- Please ensure you share verified stories and information. Despite this situation existing for decades, mainstream media has only given it importance now, often spreading unverified stories and cases.
- Keep visiting the IHRC Uighur Campaign page for updates on the campaign, and for past and ongoing actions.
Model template
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]
Dear Dr Yousef Al-Othaimeen,
Re: Situation of Uighurs in China
I am sure you are aware of the alarming reports of the mistreatment and persecution of Uighurs in China.
I am deeply concerned about the violation of their rights including their religious, social and political rights. I am sure you will agree that this is an abomination of justice, and I look to your organisation to make strong representations to China and demand that China should immediately shutdown all re-education camps and release all individuals detained. China should also end all programs and policies aimed at surveilling and controlling the Uighur Muslims. Finally, China should allow free and unfettered access to suspected camps in Xinjiang to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant international bodies/NGOs. Staged tours of the camps controlled by the Chinese state do not give the world a credible picture of what is happening in Xinjiang.
Finally your office should work together with Muslim states to emphasize that minorities, and in particular Muslims, are not a threat to the Chinese state. Rape, torture, murder and forced indoctrination will only make the Uighur population angry and make the Muslim world resentful of China;
I look forward to your reply regarding this urgent matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
Recipient address
Please visit https://www.oic-oci.org/contact/?lan=en and fill in the form along with the template above. Alternatively you can send a letter to:
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
P.O.Box 178, Jeddah 21411,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
