Dolkun Isa Calls for Action on 15th Anniversary of Urumqi Massacre

Geneva, Switzerland – Dolkun Isa, President of the World Uyghur Congress, has criticized China for its human rights abuses and economic exploitation, especially in Africa. Speaking on the 15th anniversary of the 2009 Urumqi massacre, Isa highlighted the ongoing genocide against the Uyghurs.

Remembering the Urumqi Massacre

Isa described July 5 as the darkest day in Uyghur history, marking the start of the genocide. He stated, “Thousands of Uyghur youths were demonstrating to seek justice, but China killed more than 1,000 of them, and many disappeared.”

Call for International Action

Isa urged the international community to act against the ongoing genocide, emphasizing the legal obligations of countries that have signed the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

China’s Rejection of UN Recommendations

Isa expressed disappointment with China’s rejection of numerous UN recommendations during the Universal Periodic Review. He noted that crucial issues like arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity were ignored by China.

Concerns Over Forced Labour

Isa criticized China’s use of forced labour in producing electric vehicles, which he claimed are destroying European businesses. He stated, “47 percent of batteries come from Uyghur forced labour. So, it is not clean energy; it is black energy.”

China’s Influence in Africa

Isa also raised concerns about China’s growing influence in Africa, warning that Chinese projects often come with ulterior motives. He cited the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as an example of a project that benefits China more than the local population.

International Issues

Isa argued that issues like Tibet, Hong Kong, and East Turkistan are not internal Chinese matters but international issues. He called for global solidarity to hold China accountable for its human rights violations.