China’s persecuted Uyghurs expect India to give up its silence and step in to prevent the “genocide” of the community, unlike other major powers, including Islamic nations, which are silent on the issue, a leading Uyghur leader has said.
Talking to IANS, World Uyghur Congress President Dolkun Isa, who is living in exile in Germany, said that India has a strong influence internationally and should intervene to stop the Uyghur genocide.
Detailing the repression the Uyghurs are facing in their East Turkestan homeland, especially in the “education centres” set up by the Chinese government, he cited India’s approach to the Tibetan refugees to seek his support for his people. Excerpts:
Q: You are living a life in exile for several years. Do you expect to go back one day?
A: I left East Turkistan more than twenty years ago, and it is very painful to see that the situation there has worsened with every year that passed. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that one day, everyone can live free and with dignity in East Turkestan.
Q: There are media reports that the Uyghur Muslim population are not allowed to even practice their religious beliefs by Communist China, can you elaborate on that?
A: The Chinese government passed several legislations that has led to near total state control over all aspects of religious practice, including the selection of imams, forcing people to break their fasts during Ramadan and preventing them from undertaking the Hajj, preventing all Uyghur children from any religious activity with parents prevented from any religious teaching, and the deconstruction of thousands of mosques, graveyards and other cultural sites has been consistent in the region.
Q: Many thousands of Uyghar Muslims are reportedly being physically tormented in China. Your take on this?
A: The situation in the internment camps is alarming. Detainees are held in very poor and overcrowded conditions, where they don’t have access to adequate medical care. Camp survivors like Mihrigul Tursun and Sayragul Sauytbay witnessed physical and psychological torture. Furthermore, women were forced to get injections or pills, which caused the loss of consciousness and reduction of cognition. Furthermore, the drugs caused the loss of menstruation and bleeding in some women.
Q: Do you feel that even after the atrocities and physical torment of the Chinese government is continuing against the Uyghur minority Muslims, the Islamic world is maintaining a studied silence?
A: The persecution of Uyghurs is one of the most serious instances of religious persecution of Muslims in the world. A majority of Muslim states have been not only silent on the ongoing Uyghur genocide, but some of them have even supported China openly. It is shameful to see how the Muslim world turns a blind eye to the persecution of millions of their brothers and sisters.
Q: It is learnt that there are several re-education centres in China for providing vocational training for Uyghur Muslims.
A: The living conditions in the camps are draconian. Torture, rape, forced sterilisation and death are the constant companions of the detainees. The aim of the Chinese government is clear: to break the people in order to make them serve to the CCP will and to eradicate the Uyghur identity. Therefore, the detainees have to forget anything that is linked to their Uyghur identity. Inside the camps, detainees are forced to attend indoctrination classes, where they have to learn Mandarin, sing propaganda songs and praise the CCP. These are no ‘education centres’… these are sophisticated instruments of the Uyghur genocide. According to the leaked Karatax prison list, the CCP mainly targets individuals at birthable age and intellectuals. A report by researcher Adrian Zenz provided further evidence by official Chinese documents that the CCP seeks to achieve a zero growth rate in East Turkestan.
Q: Even after the brutal crackdown and mowing down of agitating students at Tianmen Square, China continues to hold positions in international bodies including the UN. Please tell us why this is so.
A: During the Tiananmen protest, so many students fighting for freedom and democracy were killed by the Chinese government. Nevertheless, China could even increase its international influence since then. Countries turn a blind eye to the Chinese atrocities because of economic interests, some even set up a coalition. Furthermore, China is the second largest donor to the UN.
Q: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is championing the cause of Muslims globally, Why is the Turkish government silent on your case even after you share the same cultural roots?
A: Uyghurs and the Turkish people have strong ties, since they speak the same language, have the same culture and history. The Turkish government has been silent so far, but some days ago, a government spokesperson finally addressed the Uyghur human rights crisis.
Q: What is your appeal to people of India on the Uyghur cause?
A: There has been a strong traditional link between the Indian people and the Uyghurs. We have lived since so many centuries peacefully next to each other. India has also been very welcoming towards Tibetan refugees. The Uyghur get a lot of support from the Indian people. They are well aware of the atrocities Uyghurs have to face in East Turkestan. Unfortunately, the Indian government has been silent on the Uyghur genocide so far. India has a lot of influence on the international level due to their size and economic power. We expect India to use its influence to stop the Uyghur genocide.
