Campaign for Uyghurs Condemns Sentencing of Hushtar Isa

Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) strongly condemns the sentencing of Hushtar Isa by the Chinese regime. Hushtar’s brother Dolkun Isa serves as the President of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) and Vice President of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO). As a leader, he has worked tirelessly internationally for the democratic freedoms of the people in East Turkistan and the recognition of the Uyghur Genocide. Here is yet another clear example of retaliation by the regime in Beijing targeting the families of human rights advocates.

So often, activists outside the reach of the Chinese Communist Party are targeted through their families. Those still living in East Turkistan are the most accessible, and pay a high price. These are tactics which aim to discourage activists from speaking out. Particularly in light of the Uyghur Tribunal to be held in London next week, these types of moves to intimidate can be identified as what they are: futile attempts to thwart justice. 

Dolkun Isa said of the news concerning his brother that “I am heartbroken by the news of my brother’s sentencing. The CCP has no respect for human decency, or for due process. They traffic in fear and threats, demanding the compliance of those they seek to destroy. We shall not be compliant. For the sake of my brother, and of all my brothers and sisters around the world, we press on in the pursuit of justice.”

CFU Executive Director Rushan Abbas commented on the news saying “It hurts to see my long-time friend and colleague suffering yet again with the sham sentencing of his brother. He has endured enormous losses already because of his leadership for the Uyghur people and advocacy. My sister was taken as punishment for my activism. We are advocating for our people at the cost of our loved ones’ freedom. I stand with him and demand that the international community hold the Chinese regime accountable for this outrageous retaliatory action and genocide.”

Campaign For Uyghurs demands an end to the crimes against the Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples. We must not tolerate such arbitrary punishments, or this arbitrary cruelty. Today, in the name of Hushtar, we call upon the world to act. We call for a boycott of the 2022 Olympics, an end to Uyghur forced labor, and an end to the genocide. Each day will bring more abuses and crimes, until the Chinese regime is held accountable through meaningful, tangible actions.