UHRP Condemns Kazakhstan's Extradition of Uyghurs to China
- 12/01/2004
Washington, DC. The Uyghur American Association (UAA) and the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) strongly condemn Kazakhstan's recent extradition of Uyghur refugees to China and demands that Kazakhstan refrain from future extraditions Uyghurs seeking refuge for their peaceful political views and religious beliefs.
According to Radio Free Asia, the Kazakh National Security Agency's announcement of the refugees' extradition followed five days after its announcement of the refugees' detainment.
Kazakh National Security Agency Deputy Chairman Vladimir Bozhko stated, "Due to facts of involvement into Uyghur separatist organizations, 14 individuals have been extradited to Kyrgyzstan and China," according to the Radio Free Asia report. He claimed that the refugees are all members of the East Turkistan Liberation Party.
UAA and UHRP are extremely concerned about the fate of these refugees. Their return to China places them in immediate danger of torture and execution at the hands of the Chinese government.
The Chinese government has consistently criminalized activities that seek increased human rights and political representation in East Turkistan. According to an Amnesty International report, China is using the "war on terror" to justify its longstanding repression of the rights of the Uyghur community.
"China has repackaged its repression of Uyghurs as a fight against 'terrorism'," said Amnesty International. "Since the 11 September 2001 attacks on the USA, the Chinese government has been using "anti-terrorism" as a pretext to increase its crackdown on all forms of political or religious dissent in the region."
UHRP is extremely concerned that the return of Uyghur activists to China, and the subsequent execution of Uyghur prisoners of conscience by the Chinese government for their political and religious dissent, will further escalate the already tense and volatile situation in East Turkistan created by the failure of the Chinese government to address widespread violations of Uyghurs' civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
About UHRP: The Uyghur Human Rights Project was founded by the Uyghur American Association in April 2004 with a grant from the National Endowment for Democracy to promote human rights and democracy for the Uyghur people.
According to Radio Free Asia, the Kazakh National Security Agency's announcement of the refugees' extradition followed five days after its announcement of the refugees' detainment.
Kazakh National Security Agency Deputy Chairman Vladimir Bozhko stated, "Due to facts of involvement into Uyghur separatist organizations, 14 individuals have been extradited to Kyrgyzstan and China," according to the Radio Free Asia report. He claimed that the refugees are all members of the East Turkistan Liberation Party.
UAA and UHRP are extremely concerned about the fate of these refugees. Their return to China places them in immediate danger of torture and execution at the hands of the Chinese government.
The Chinese government has consistently criminalized activities that seek increased human rights and political representation in East Turkistan. According to an Amnesty International report, China is using the "war on terror" to justify its longstanding repression of the rights of the Uyghur community.
"China has repackaged its repression of Uyghurs as a fight against 'terrorism'," said Amnesty International. "Since the 11 September 2001 attacks on the USA, the Chinese government has been using "anti-terrorism" as a pretext to increase its crackdown on all forms of political or religious dissent in the region."
UHRP is extremely concerned that the return of Uyghur activists to China, and the subsequent execution of Uyghur prisoners of conscience by the Chinese government for their political and religious dissent, will further escalate the already tense and volatile situation in East Turkistan created by the failure of the Chinese government to address widespread violations of Uyghurs' civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
About UHRP: The Uyghur Human Rights Project was founded by the Uyghur American Association in April 2004 with a grant from the National Endowment for Democracy to promote human rights and democracy for the Uyghur people.
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