Uyghur activist highlights CCP’s threat to democratic values at Copenhagen Democracy Summit

“The CCP’s repression is not just a regional issue—it’s a global threat,” said Rushan Abbas at the 2025 Copenhagen Democracy Summit, calling for international action to defend democracy and human rights.

At the 2025 Copenhagen Democracy Summit, held on May 13–14 at the Royal Danish Playhouse in Copenhagen, Uyghur activists participated, including Rushan Abbas, Chairperson of the Executive Committee at the World Uyghur Congress and Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs from the US; Mehmet Tohti, Executive Director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project from Canada; and Örkesh Dölet (also known as Wu’er Kaixi), a former student leader of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests from Taiwan.

At the summit, Abbas drew international attention to the ongoing repression of Uyghurs in China, framing the crisis not only as a human rights emergency but also as a growing global threat to democratic values.

As Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs, Abbas used her platform at the high-profile summit to rally support from key international figures, including former Taiwanese President, Swedish MEP Niels Paarup-Petersen, MEP Engin Eroglu, former Dutch Minister of Defense Kajsa Ollongren, and former Irish Minister and MEP Simon Coveney.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to discuss the CCP’s threats to democracy and the shared struggle for freedom and human rights,” Abbas stated on X, following her meetings with summit attendees.

She added, “The Summit has focused on the urgent need to defend democratic values in the face of rising authoritarianism, particularly the growing global threat posed by the Chinese regime. I’m honored to share the Uyghur perspective with distinguished participants and to highlight how the CCP’s repression is not just a regional issue, but a global challenge to freedom and human rights.”

The 2025 Copenhagen Democracy Summit (CDS 2025) is an exclusive, invitation-only event held at the Royal Danish Playhouse in Copenhagen, Denmark. Organized by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, the summit brings together global leaders and advocates committed to advancing and defending democratic values in an increasingly complex world.