Thousands of Uyghurs To Protest Against ‘Re-education’ Camps in Brussels on 27 April 2018
Friday 27
April 2018 | 10:00 — 14:00
The
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) together with the World
Uyghur Congress have the honour to announce a large-scale demonstration in Brussels,
Belgium on 27 April 2018 against the continued use of
draconian ‘re-education’ camps for nearly one million Uyghurs in
East Turkestan. The demonstration that is widely supported by the Uyghur
community will start at Meeus Square at 10:00am where participants will gather
and begin to march to Schuman Square at 11:00am and end following speakers at
Schuman Square at 14:00.
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) together with the World
Uyghur Congress have the honour to announce a large-scale demonstration in Brussels,
Belgium on 27 April 2018 against the continued use of
draconian ‘re-education’ camps for nearly one million Uyghurs in
East Turkestan. The demonstration that is widely supported by the Uyghur
community will start at Meeus Square at 10:00am where participants will gather
and begin to march to Schuman Square at 11:00am and end following speakers at
Schuman Square at 14:00.
Demonstrators
are demanding that the EU:
are demanding that the EU:
• Call on
the Chinese government to release all Uyghurs held in arbitrary detention or
who have been detained without being charged
the Chinese government to release all Uyghurs held in arbitrary detention or
who have been detained without being charged
• Send an
official envoy to investigate the situation on the ground
official envoy to investigate the situation on the ground
•
Overhaul and strengthen EU-China Human Rights Dialogue going forward
Overhaul and strengthen EU-China Human Rights Dialogue going forward
The
demonstration will build on previous efforts to bring attention to the fact
that upwards of one million Uyghurs are currently being held in ‘re-education’
camps across East Turkestan. The international community has been largely muted
to this fact and the European Union, who outwardly profess the importance of
human rights and democracy, have remained remarkably silent.
demonstration will build on previous efforts to bring attention to the fact
that upwards of one million Uyghurs are currently being held in ‘re-education’
camps across East Turkestan. The international community has been largely muted
to this fact and the European Union, who outwardly profess the importance of
human rights and democracy, have remained remarkably silent.
Demonstrators
are expecting the EU to adhere to international standards in terms of religious
and cultural rights, freedom of expression and assembly, freedom of movement,
access to justice, and freedom from arbitrary detention for the Uyghur
population.
are expecting the EU to adhere to international standards in terms of religious
and cultural rights, freedom of expression and assembly, freedom of movement,
access to justice, and freedom from arbitrary detention for the Uyghur
population.
For more
information, contact us at:
information, contact us at:
unpo.brussels@unpo.org
contact@uyghurcongress.org
The
EU’s Strategic
Framework on Human Rights and Democracy sets out guiding
principles with regards to foreign policy, outlining the fact that the EU is
founded upon the shared principles of “respect for human rights, democracy and
the rule of law.” In addition, the document sets out the intention of the EU to
“promote human rights in all areas of its external action without exception.”
EU’s Strategic
Framework on Human Rights and Democracy sets out guiding
principles with regards to foreign policy, outlining the fact that the EU is
founded upon the shared principles of “respect for human rights, democracy and
the rule of law.” In addition, the document sets out the intention of the EU to
“promote human rights in all areas of its external action without exception.”
China
began sending thousands of Uyghurs to what they have called ‘re-education’
centers in late 2016. The camps have quickly grown to an unimaginable size
since then with current estimates putting the number of detainees at one
million in 2018. In Kashgar prefecture alone, it is reported that 120,000
Uyghurs are being held.
began sending thousands of Uyghurs to what they have called ‘re-education’
centers in late 2016. The camps have quickly grown to an unimaginable size
since then with current estimates putting the number of detainees at one
million in 2018. In Kashgar prefecture alone, it is reported that 120,000
Uyghurs are being held.
The camps
are eerily reminiscent of China’s Re-Education Through Labour (RTL) system that
was officially outlawed in 2013, though Amnesty International has argued
that similar centers exist across the country by other names.
are eerily reminiscent of China’s Re-Education Through Labour (RTL) system that
was officially outlawed in 2013, though Amnesty International has argued
that similar centers exist across the country by other names.
The camps
in East Turkestan function effectively as prisons, where detainees are forced
to undergo political indoctrination classes that aim to erode fundamental
aspects of Uyghur identity. Uyghurs are not officially charged with a crime or
provided explanations for detention, though Uyghurs with religious
affiliations, students who have studied abroad or have ties to anyone living
abroad have been targeted.
in East Turkestan function effectively as prisons, where detainees are forced
to undergo political indoctrination classes that aim to erode fundamental
aspects of Uyghur identity. Uyghurs are not officially charged with a crime or
provided explanations for detention, though Uyghurs with religious
affiliations, students who have studied abroad or have ties to anyone living
abroad have been targeted.
Most
recently, a number of relatives of Radio Free Asia journalist Gulchehra
Hoja disappeared
and were presumably sent to these camps. In addition, former WUC president,
Rebiya Kadeer, has said that a number of her family members may have been sent to the
camps in retaliation for her work.
recently, a number of relatives of Radio Free Asia journalist Gulchehra
Hoja disappeared
and were presumably sent to these camps. In addition, former WUC president,
Rebiya Kadeer, has said that a number of her family members may have been sent to the
camps in retaliation for her work.
Conditions
in the camps are very poor, with overcrowding and squalid living spaces. In
December 2017, two young Uyghurs died in custody under uncertain circumstances.
A prominent Uyghur scholar and religious figure Muhammad Salih Hajim died in a
camp in January 2018, another was driven to
suicide in February 2018, and a teenager died under
mysterious circumstances in March 2018.
in the camps are very poor, with overcrowding and squalid living spaces. In
December 2017, two young Uyghurs died in custody under uncertain circumstances.
A prominent Uyghur scholar and religious figure Muhammad Salih Hajim died in a
camp in January 2018, another was driven to
suicide in February 2018, and a teenager died under
mysterious circumstances in March 2018.
