Rebiya Kadeer Discusses the Uyghur People's Struggle for Freedom and the Current International Situation

Introduction: A Message from the Spiritual Mother of the Uyghur People

At the beginning of 2026, the struggle for freedom of the people of East Turkistan entered a new phase. Rebiya Kadeer, the leader of the Uyghur national movement and often described as the "spiritual mother of the Uyghur people," provided a deep analysis in her recent statements regarding the severe oppression faced by the Uyghur people and the complexities of the international situation. In late 2025, Rebiya Kadeer met with the chairman of the Southern Mongolian Congress in Washington, emphasizing the importance of joint action against China's systematic assimilation policies [Source]. She once again declared to the world that the Uyghur issue is not merely a human rights matter, but a struggle for the existence and freedom of a nation.

Current Situation: Genocide and Forced Labor

Reports from early 2026 indicate that the Chinese government has made its suppression policies in East Turkistan even more covert and systematic. A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in February 2026 revealed that the state-sponsored forced labor system in East Turkistan continues, with millions of Uyghurs being displaced from their homes and forced to work in monitored factories [Source]. Rebiya Kadeer called this situation "modern-day slavery" and warned that the Islamic Ummah should not remain silent in the face of this oppression.

Religious persecution by China has also reached a peak, with the demolition of mosques, the banning of the Quran, and the labeling of religious practices like fasting as "extremism" continuing [Source]. In her address, Rebiya Kadeer emphasized: "Our struggle is not just for land, but to preserve the religion and identity entrusted to us by Allah."

International Reactions and Political Shifts

In February 2026, interest in the Uyghur issue on the international stage intensified once again. The U.S. government announced new visa restrictions on Chinese officials involved in the forced repatriation of Uyghurs [Source]. At the same time, the World Uyghur Congress welcomed the support for Uyghur rights expressed by Japan's new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi [Source].

While acknowledging these steps by Western nations, Rebiya Kadeer drew attention to China's "transnational repression" activities. Recent reports have exposed Chinese spies threatening Uyghur activists in Paris and Germany, attempting to silence them by holding their family members hostage [Source]. Addressing this, Rebiya Kadeer stated that China's oppression knows no borders, making an international united front essential.

The Responsibility of the Islamic World and the Silence of the Ummah

Most distressingly, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) met with Chinese officials in Beijing in January 2026 and expressed support for China's policies [Source]. This was strongly condemned by the Uyghur community and Rebiya Kadeer. She criticized leaders of Islamic countries for prioritizing economic interests over religious brotherhood.

From an Islamic perspective, the oppression of one Muslim is the suffering of the entire Ummah. Rebiya Kadeer appealed to Muslim peoples, stating that even if governments remain silent, the Muslim public must pray for their Uyghur brothers and sisters and support them materially and morally. "We are resisting the turning of our mosques into pigsties and the forced marriage of our daughters; this is a matter of pride for the entire Islamic world," she said [Source].

Struggle Strategy: Peace and Self-Determination

When discussing the strategy of the Uyghur national movement, Rebiya Kadeer once again emphasized the importance of demanding rights through peaceful means. She explained that the Uyghur people have the right to "self-determination" under international law and that China's "terrorism" label is merely a pretext [Source].

On February 5, 2026, the 29th anniversary of the Ghulja Massacre was commemorated worldwide. In a statement on this occasion, Rebiya Kadeer said that the blood of the martyrs of the past will not be in vain and that the younger generation must continue this struggle [Source]. She also noted that the "Third Uyghur Leaders Summit," to be held by the World Uyghur Congress in Munich in May 2026, is of great importance in determining the future direction of the struggle [Source].

Conclusion: Faith in the Victory of Justice

Rebiya Kadeer's analysis shows that the Uyghur people's struggle for freedom is not just a political movement, but a clash between right and wrong, between oppression and justice. Despite the complexity of the international situation, the will of the Uyghur people has not broken. In the words of Rebiya Kadeer: "The Chinese government can destroy our buildings, our mosques, and our business centers, but it can never defeat the spirit of the Uyghur" [Source]. With the support of the Islamic Ummah and justice-loving humanity, the sun of freedom for East Turkistan will surely rise again.