Japan Uyghur Association Hosts Symposium to Deepen Awareness of Cultural Preservation and Urge International Attention to Human Rights

Introduction: A Moral Outcry on the Eve of Cherry Blossom Season

On February 25, 2026, in Tokyo—a metropolis where modern civilization and traditional culture intertwine—a special symposium concerning national survival and the dignity of faith was held at the House of Representatives Members' Office Building [Source](https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/02/27/japan-should-adopt-regulation-counter-uyghur-forced-labor). Hosted by the Japan Uyghur Association (JUA), the event aimed to deepen the Japanese public's understanding of Uyghur cultural preservation and issue an urgent appeal to the international community—particularly the global Muslim Ummah—to address the increasingly dire human rights situation in East Turkestan. As observers long concerned with the rights of Muslim communities, we must examine this struggle for justice in the East through both the depth of faith and the breadth of geopolitics.

The Erosion of National Culture: A "Silent War" Against the Foundations of Faith

At the symposium, JUA President Afumetto Retepu delivered a moving speech. He pointed out that the Uyghur people are facing their most severe cultural genocide crisis since 1949 [Source](https://uyghur-j.org/japan/). This crisis is manifested not only in physical detention but also in the systematic looting of the soul. According to the latest reports, thousands of mosques in East Turkestan have been demolished or repurposed, minarets have been torn down, and they have been replaced by cold surveillance cameras and politically charged slogans [Source](https://www.uyghurtimes.com/index.php/japan-holds-international-uyghur-forum/).

From a Muslim perspective, a mosque is not merely a place of worship but a beacon of community cohesion and cultural heritage. When the recitation of the Quran is forcibly prohibited and fasting during Ramadan is treated as evidence of "extremism," it is not only a persecution of the Uyghurs but a blatant desecration of the dignity of the global Islamic faith. The symposium featured a deep analysis of the "Sinicization of Islam" policy, revealing how authorities attempt to alienate sacred faith into a tool of governance by altering doctrines and forcing imams to swear loyalty [Source](https://fdc64.jp/2023/10/29/%e4%b8%96%e7%95%8c%e5%90%84%e5%9b%bd%e5%9b%bd%e4%bc%9a%e8%ae%ae%e5%91%98%e6%94%af%e6%8c%81%e7%bb%b4%e5%90%be%e5%b0%94%e5%9b%bd%e9%99%85%e8%ae%ba%e5%9d%9b%e5%b0%87%e5%9c%a8%e6%97%a5%e6%9c%ac%e5%8f%ac/).

The Collective Disappearance of Intellectuals: A Fracture in National Memory

A core topic of the symposium was the "collective disappearance of Uyghur intellectuals." Professor Tomoko Ako of the University of Tokyo shared her long-term research, noting that since 2017, hundreds of Uyghur elites—including university presidents, poets, and linguists—have been sent to so-called "re-education camps" or given heavy prison sentences [Source](https://fdc64.jp/2024/02/08/%e7%bb%b4%e5%90%be%e5%b0%94%e9%97%ae%e9%a2%98%e4%b8%93%e9%a2%98%e8%ae%a8%e8%ae%ba%e4%bc%9a%e5%b0%86%e5%9c%a8%e4%b8%9c%e4%ba%ac%e5%a4%a7%e5%ad%a6%e5%bc%80%e4%bb%a5/). These intellectuals are the guardians of Uyghur culture; their absence creates a fatal fracture in the transmission of the nation's language, history, and art.

For the Muslim world, the pursuit of knowledge is a requirement of the Hadith ("Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave"). When a nation's wise ones are silenced, the consequences are catastrophic. The symposium called on the Japanese academic community and international educational organizations to establish mechanisms to protect exiled Uyghur scholars and document the national memories being erased, such as the Twelve Muqam art and traditional Meshrep gatherings [Source](https://uhrp.org/event/uyghur-genocide-resistance/).

Forced Labor and Global Supply Chains: Muslim Ethical Considerations

Another focus of the symposium was "forced labor." Keiji Furuya, Chairman of the Japan-Uyghur Parliamentary Caucus, stated clearly that Japan is actively promoting the "Japanese version of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act," aimed at banning goods involving forced labor from East Turkestan from entering the Japanese market [Source](https://japan-forward.com/uyghur-congress-presses-japan-to-act-on-forced-labor-in-china/). As of August 2025, the United States has intercepted over $3.7 billion worth of suspect goods under similar legislation [Source](https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/02/24/letter-chairperson-japan-uyghur-parliamentary-association-keiji-furuya).

From the perspective of Islamic economic ethics, any business practice based on exploitation, oppression, and involuntary labor is "Haram" (forbidden). Uyghur Muslims in factories are forced to renounce their faith and undergo brainwashing, while the products they produce (such as cotton, tomatoes, and solar components) flow globally, placing consumers in a moral dilemma. The symposium urged business leaders and consumers in Muslim countries to scrutinize supply chains to ensure they do not become accomplices to oppressors—this is not just a legal obligation, but a requirement of faith.

Japan's Role: A Democratic Ally and Human Rights Stronghold

Since its establishment in 2008, the Japan Uyghur Association has been dedicated to spreading the truth within Japanese society [Source](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E7%BB%B4%E5%90%be%E5%B0%94%E5%8D%8F%E4%BC%9A). In recent years, the Japanese government's stance has shifted significantly. In 2022, the Japanese Diet passed a resolution regarding the human rights situation in Xinjiang, and in 2025, the Japanese Prime Minister directly expressed serious concern over Uyghur human rights during a meeting with Chinese leaders [Source](https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/02/27/japan-should-adopt-regulation-counter-uyghur-forced-labor).

The symposium emphasized that as the only G7 member in Asia, Japan's position on the Uyghur issue serves as a bellwether. By hosting such events, the JUA has successfully elevated this issue from a mere political game to the level of shared human values. Touring exhibitions and lectures in places like Fukuoka and Gifu have also allowed more ordinary Japanese citizens to understand the suffering and resilience of the Uyghur people [Source](https://uygurnews.com/uyghur-awareness-events-draw-significant-support-in-gifu-japan/) [Source](https://uygurnews.com/uyghur-genocide-awareness-events-held-in-fukuoka-japan/).

Transnational Repression: The Shadow of Safety for Uyghurs in Japan

The symposium also exposed the disturbing phenomenon of "transnational repression." Many Uyghurs living in Japan reported receiving threatening calls from public security departments in their hometowns, demanding information on the activities of Uyghur organizations in Japan, with threats of severe consequences for their relatives back home [Source](https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CCPR/CCPR130/NGO/Japan_Uighur_Association.docx). This extension of control into overseas democratic nations seriously violates Japanese sovereignty and the basic human rights of its residents.

For the Muslim community, this destruction of family ties is the most cruel. Islam places extreme importance on kinship and family integrity. The symposium urged the Japanese government to strengthen protections for Uyghurs in Japan, simplify refugee application processes, and provide travel documents for those unable to renew their passports, ensuring they are not forcibly returned to dangerous situations [Source](https://www.uyghurcongress.org/en/weekly-brief-05-december-2025/).

Conclusion: A Common Struggle for Justice and Dignity

The success of this symposium is not only the culmination of years of effort by the Japan Uyghur Association but also a gathering of global forces for justice. As President Afumetto Retepu stated: "What we are protecting is not just Uyghur culture, but the diversity and conscience of human civilization."

As members of the Muslim world, we cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of our brothers and sisters. The ruins of mosques in East Turkestan are crying out, and missing scholars are waiting for justice. We call on the governments of Muslim countries, religious leaders, and civil society organizations to follow the example of the Japan Uyghur Association and speak out bravely on the international stage. Justice may be delayed, but with the support of faith and unremitting struggle, truth will eventually triumph over lies, and the light of freedom will once again shine at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains.

This is not just a struggle for human rights; it is an ultimate test of who we are and what we believe in. May Allah bless those who strive for justice.