World Uyghur Congress Urges Urgent International Action to Halt Systematic Violations and Protect Human Rights in East Turkestan

Introduction: The Bleeding Wound of the Ummah in East Turkestan

The issue of East Turkestan (known by China as the Xinjiang region) remains one of the deepest wounds in the body of the contemporary Islamic Ummah. Amidst the escalating pace of systematic repression by Chinese authorities, the **World Uyghur Congress** (WUC) stands as a legitimate voice and a steadfast defender of the rights of millions of Uyghur Muslims facing attempts to erase their religious and ethnic identity. What is happening today in those lands is not merely a political conflict, but a direct targeting of the faith and values of a Muslim community deeply rooted in history [uyghurcongress.org](https://www.uyghurcongress.org/en/east-turkistan/).

In early 2026, the World Uyghur Congress renewed its urgent appeals to the international community, particularly Islamic nations, to take immediate action to stop what it described as an "ongoing genocide," warning that international silence gives Beijing a green light to continue its repressive policies that have crossed the region's borders to target activists in the diaspora [muslimnetwork.tv](https://muslimnetwork.tv/world-uyghur-congress-warns-repression-crossing-chinas-borders/).

The 8th General Assembly in Sarajevo: A New Beginning Despite Challenges

The 8th General Assembly of the World Uyghur Congress, held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from October 24 to 27, 2024, marked a strategic turning point in the cause. The Congress faced unprecedented pressure from the Chinese government to cancel the event, including death threats, cyberattacks, and diplomatic attempts to pressure Bosnian authorities [voanews.com](https://www.voanews.com/a/world-uyghur-congress-faces-harassment-ahead-of-general-assembly/7831962.html). Nevertheless, the Congress successfully elected a new leadership headed by **Turgunjan Alawudun**, succeeding Dolkun Isa, with vice presidents appointed from Germany, Turkey, and Kazakhstan [turkistantimes.com](https://turkistantimes.com/en/the-world-uyghur-congress-after-sarajevo-where-do-they-go-from-here/).

The choice of Sarajevo—a city that witnessed genocide against Muslims in the 1990s—carried a powerful symbolic message that the memory of peoples does not forget, and that justice, though delayed, is coming. The new leadership in 2025 and 2026 focused on strengthening international accountability and expanding alliances with global human rights organizations [dukva.org](https://dukva.org/press-release-wuc-urges-starmer-to-raise-uyghur-genocide-during-his-visit-to-china/).

2026 Violations: From Forced Labor to the Erasure of Religious Identity

Reports issued in February 2026 indicate that Chinese authorities have not retreated from their policies but have instead devised new methods of repression. The International Labour Organization (ILO) Committee of Experts revealed the continuation of forced "labor transfer" programs, with more than 3.34 million people in East Turkestan transferred during 2024 alone under the threat of detention [ianslive.in](https://www.ianslive.in/news/wuc-raises-alarm-over-china-s-transnational-repression-against-uyghurs-20260223161005).

Regarding religious identity, recent investigations in early 2026 documented Chinese authorities banning Uyghur folk songs and criminalizing their distribution. This even extended to banning the traditional Islamic greeting "Assalamu Alaikum," replacing it with phrases glorifying the Communist Party [uyghurcongress.org](https://www.uyghurcongress.org/en/weekly-brief-09-january-2026/). This approach falls under what Beijing calls the "Sinicization of Islam," which is, in reality, an attempt to hollow out the religion and convert mosques into tourist centers or demolish them entirely [uyghurstudy.org](https://uyghurstudy.org/ar/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%b5%d9%86%d9%8a%d9%81/%d8%ad%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b5%d9%8a%d9%86-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a5%d8%b3%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%85/).

Transnational Repression: Pursuing the Free in the Diaspora

In a statement released in January 2026, the World Uyghur Congress warned of the escalating phenomenon of "transnational repression." Violations are no longer confined within China's borders but have extended to pursuing activists in countries such as Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Europe. In Kazakhstan, Uyghur activists faced charges of "inciting ethnic hatred against the Chinese people" simply for protesting the imprisonment of their relatives [muslimnetwork.tv](https://muslimnetwork.tv/world-uyghur-congress-warns-repression-crossing-chinas-borders/).

In France and Germany, human rights organizations documented Chinese attempts to pressure Uyghur refugees to spy on their communities in exchange for promises to allow them to contact their detained families [uyghurcongress.org](https://www.uyghurcongress.org/en/weekly-brief-20-february-2026/). The Congress also expressed grave concern over the spread of Chinese surveillance technologies (such as Hikvision and Dahua cameras) in European capitals, threatening the security and safety of the Uyghur community abroad [socialnews.xyz](https://www.socialnews.xyz/2026/02/23/wuc-raises-alarm-over-chinas-transnational-repression-against-uyghurs/).

Perspective of the Islamic Ummah: The Duty of Support and Geopolitical Responsibility

From an authentic Islamic perspective, the Uyghur issue is not just a human rights file in the corridors of the United Nations; it is a test for the conscience of the Islamic Ummah and its institutions, such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The values of justice and fairness brought by Islam dictate that Muslim countries should not prioritize narrow economic interests with Beijing over the blood and rights of their brothers in faith [alestiklal.net](https://www.alestiklal.net/ar/article/1620412800-andulus-another-this-is-china-strategy-to-erase-the-faith-of-uyghur-muslims).

The World Uyghur Congress calls on Muslim leaders to adopt a firm stance rejecting the "Sinicization of Islam," the demolition of mosques, and the banning of fasting and the hijab. The continued official silence of some Islamic capitals contributes to the isolation of the Uyghur people and weakens their international position. In 2026, the Congress emphasizes the need to activate "values-based diplomacy," where human rights and freedom of worship must be an integral part of any trade agreements with China [shiawaves.com](https://shiawaves.com/arabic/news/116166-world-uyghur-congress-calls-on-britain-to-confront-china-over-human-rights-violations/).

Required International Action: From Condemnation to Action

In light of UN reports confirming that violations in East Turkestan may amount to "crimes against humanity" [aljazeera.net](https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2022/9/9/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B2%D8%B6%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%85%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%B4%D8%A3%D9%86), the World Uyghur Congress sets out a roadmap for international action in 2026, including:

1. **Imposing Economic Sanctions**: Targeting Chinese companies involved in forced labor and surveillance technologies. 2. **Legal Accountability**: Supporting efforts to bring cases before the International Criminal Court or using universal jurisdiction to prosecute those responsible for violations. 3. **Protecting Refugees**: Stopping the deportation of Uyghurs from neighboring countries (such as Thailand) to China, where they face the risk of torture and enforced disappearance [uyghurcongress.org](https://www.uyghurcongress.org/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A4%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%BA%D9%88%D8%B1-%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%84%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AD/). 4. **Diplomatic Pressure**: Urging international leaders (such as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his expected visit to China in 2026) to place the genocide file at the top of the bilateral agenda [dukva.org](https://dukva.org/press-release-wuc-urges-starmer-to-raise-uyghur-genocide-during-his-visit-to-china/).

Conclusion: The Call for Justice Never Fades

The struggle of the World Uyghur Congress is a battle for survival and dignity. As 2026 begins, hope remains pinned on the awakening of the global conscience and the solidarity of the Islamic Ummah. East Turkestan is not just a geographical location; it is a true test of the principles of human rights and international justice. As WUC President Turgunjan Alawudun stated: "We will not stop until our people gain their freedom and their basic human rights are respected, and we will continue to remind the world that no matter how long the night of injustice lasts, the dawn of justice must break" [turkistantimes.com](https://turkistantimes.com/en/the-world-uyghur-congress-after-sarajevo-where-do-they-go-from-here/).