Rushan Abbas, Chairwoman of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) Executive Committee, has accused Beijing of hosting a so-called Human Rights Forum while allegedly committing severe abuses against Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples. Speaking from Washington DC, Abbas criticized China for attempting to reshape international human rights norms to fit its authoritarian system.
Allegations of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity
In a post on X, Abbas stated, "While the Chinese government is carrying out a full-fledged genocide against Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples, Beijing is simultaneously hosting a so-called 'Human Rights Forum' as part of its broader effort to redefine human rights on the global stage." She referenced a 2022 assessment by the UN Human Rights Office on Xinjiang, which documented allegations including arbitrary mass detention, torture, sexual violence, forced sterilization, forced labor, religious persecution, suppression of Uyghur culture, family separation, discrimination, and mass surveillance. The UN assessment concluded that some of these abuses may constitute crimes against humanity.
Cross-Border Repression
Abbas cited the case of her sister, Gulshan Abbas, as an example of China's cross-border repression. "She was disappeared and sentenced simply because I exercised my right to speak freely in the United States," Abbas wrote, adding that the case demonstrates how China's repression extends beyond its borders.
Call for International Action
Calling on governments and institutions not to legitimize such events, Abbas said, "The world should not allow a government accused of genocide and crimes against humanity to dictate what human rights mean. Human rights belong to the victims, not to their persecutors."
