Japan Uyghur Association Intensifies International Activities Against Current Uyghur Situation and Human Rights Violations

The ongoing severe human rights violations and genocide policies in East Turkistan currently demand the urgent attention of the international community, particularly the Muslim world. In this context, the Japan Uyghur Association (JUA) is actively working to raise awareness of the Uyghur cause and secure political and social support in Japan, one of Asia's strongest democratic nations. Led by Chairman Ahmed Retep, the organization carried out a series of significant international and domestic activities throughout 2024 and the early months of 2025, successfully bringing the Uyghur issue to the forefront of Japan's political agenda [Source](https://japan-forward.com/chinas-uyghur-genocide-why-is-the-un-doing-nothing/).

The Current Situation in East Turkistan: A War Against Religious Identity

By 2025, the Chinese Communist Party's policies of oppression in East Turkistan have become increasingly systematic and digital. According to the recently released "East Turkistan Human Rights Violations Index 2025" report, Chinese authorities are utilizing artificial intelligence and high-tech surveillance systems to monitor every movement of Uyghur Muslims [Source](https://uyghurtimes.com/east-turkistan-human-rights-violations-index-2025-released-in-istanbul/). Particularly under the policy of the "Sinicization of Islam," the demolition of mosques and the deaths of religious scholars in prisons remain among the most heart-wrenching tragedies for the Ummah.

The 2025 report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) notes that more than 1,000 imams and religious figures have been detained since 2014. The recent death of the 96-year-old renowned scholar Abidin Damollam in prison has once again exposed China's intent to uproot Islamic knowledge and identity [Source](https://www.uyghurcongress.org/en/weekly-brief-03-october-2025/). Furthermore, the banning of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan and the labeling of those who perform prayers as "extremists" are turning East Turkistan into a zone of forced secularization [Source](https://uyghurstudy.org/uyghur-muslims-mark-another-ramadan-under-systematic-religious-repression/).

Domestic Advocacy Activities of the Japan Uyghur Association

The Japan Uyghur Association continues to conduct public awareness campaigns across various cities in Japan. During events held in Fukuoka in February 2025, books and materials regarding the Uyghur genocide were distributed, and discussion forums were organized with the participation of former parliament members and journalists [Source](https://uygurnews.com/uyghur-genocide-awareness-events-held-in-fukuoka-japan/). Similar activities have been carried out in cities such as Gifu, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Oita, sparking significant sympathy among the Japanese public for the oppression faced by Uyghur Muslims [Source](https://uygurnews.com/uyghur-awareness-events-draw-significant-support-in-gifu-japan/).

One of the association's most vital achievements is its close cooperation with the "Uyghur Parliamentary Caucus" within the Japanese Diet. At a press conference held in the Parliament building in May 2025, a demand for mandatory legislation was raised to prevent Japanese companies from being complicit in Uyghur forced labor [Source](https://uygurnews.com/press-conference-held-in-japanese-parliament-against-uyghur-forced-aabor/). JUA Chairman Ahmed Retep emphasized that Japan must not serve as a "legal loophole" for Chinese companies and asserted that human dignity must always take precedence over economic interests.

International Cooperation and Relations with the World Uyghur Congress

As a key member of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), the Japan Uyghur Association plays an active role on the international stage. A delegation from Japan attended the 8th General Assembly of the World Uyghur Congress held in Sarajevo in October 2024 [Source](https://www.uyghurcongress.org/en/world-uyghur-congress-8th-general-assembly/). During this assembly, Mr. Turgunjan Alawudun was elected as the president of the WUC, and Mr. Sawut Muhammad, a member of the Japan Uyghur Association, was appointed as the Director of East Asian Affairs. This appointment signifies the strengthening position of the Uyghur cause in Japan within the global movement.

Additionally, in November 2025, WUC leaders met with high-ranking Japanese politicians, including Keiji Furuya, to discuss the adoption of a bill in Japan similar to the U.S. "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" [Source](https://japan-forward.com/uyghur-congress-presses-japan-to-act-on-forced-labor-in-china/). Such diplomatic efforts are crucial for severing the chains of China's economic exploitation in East Turkistan.

The Responsibility of the Islamic Ummah and the Meaning of Advocacy

From an Islamic perspective, the oppression of any Muslim is a pain felt by the entire Ummah. The Prophet's (PBUH) hadith stating that "the believers are like the limbs of one body" faces its greatest test today regarding the Uyghur issue. China's actions—demolishing mosques to replace them with entertainment venues and attempting to alter the meaning of the Holy Quran—constitute an insult to the entire Islamic world.

The activities of the Japan Uyghur Association are not merely political; they are part of an "advocacy struggle" (Jihad of the tongue) to speak the truth and oppose tyranny. While many governments of Muslim-majority countries remain silent due to economic interests, the efforts to protect Uyghur rights in a non-Muslim country like Japan should serve as a catalyst for the Ummah to reflect. It is a collective obligation for Muslims worldwide to provide material and spiritual support to our brothers and sisters in East Turkistan as they struggle to preserve their faith.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

Despite the challenges it faces, the Japan Uyghur Association continues to fight tirelessly for the freedom of East Turkistan and the human rights of the Uyghur people. As we move into 2026, there is hope that the Japanese Parliament will implement more decisive legal measures and that international pressure on China will intensify.

As the Islamic Ummah, our duty is to be the voice of our oppressed brothers and sisters wherever they may be. The efforts of the Japan Uyghur Association remind us that truth will eventually prevail and that oppression cannot last forever. The sound of the Adhan echoing once again in the mosques of East Turkistan, and Uyghur children being educated in their own language and faith, must remain the common prayer and goal of the entire Ummah.