Rebiya’s philanthropic work led her into conflict with the Chinese authorities and she was imprisoned for nearly six years, two of them in solitary confinement, until international pressure led her to be released and she was allowed to start a new life in the United States.

Rebiya continues to campaign on behalf of the Uighur people, but her children who remain in China pay a heavy price for her freedom of speech. On the day that Rebiya was elected President of the World Uighur Congress earlier this year, her son, who was being held in a detention centre, was severely beaten. Now two of her sons have been given long prison sentences.

Rebiya will come to the UK in October this year (2007) to talk to members of the public, politicians and the media about the plight of the Uighur people. Amnesty International has asked her to address public meetings in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh and she will also meet with Uighurs living here, some of whom have also suffered human rights abuses in their homeland.

Rebiya Kadeer’s Itinerary for UK trip in October 2007:

Monday 1st 4.30pm – 6pm: Demonstration opposite Chinese embassy in London to mark anniversary of Communist rule in China
Monday 1st 7pm: Rebiya gives talk in London
Tuesday 2nd 5.30pm: Rebiya gives talk in Cardiff
Wednesday 3rd: private meeting at House of Lords in London.
Thursday 4th 7pm: Rebiya gives talk in Edinburgh

This series of events is also supported by the Islamic Human Rights Commission.

For more details please go to the event website on