Uyghur representatives highlight China’s repression at Religious Freedom Conference in Kenya

An Uyghur delegation led by World Uyghur Congress (WUC) President Turgunjan Alawudun took part in the “Africa Together: A Continental Call to Religious Freedom” conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, from June 16 to 18, 2025. The delegation included activists from the World Uyghur Congress, the Center for Uyghur Studies and Campaign for Uyghurs.

Organized under the framework of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit, the conference brought together diplomats, religious leaders, academics, and human rights advocates from across the African continent to discuss challenges to religious freedom and promote international cooperation.

Throughout the three-day event, the Uyghur delegation held meetings with a wide range of participants, including diplomats, researchers, religious scholars, and civil society representatives. Many attendees—especially Imams and religious leaders from countries such as Tanzania, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Sudan—shared that they were previously unaware of the Uyghur people’s struggle under Chinese rule.

To address this lack of awareness, the Uyghur delegation informative a variety of educational materials, including books and reports that provide detailed accounts of the Chinese government’s repressive policies in East Turkistan (XUAR in China). These materials covered topics such as religious persecution, the mass internment of Uyghurs in so-called “re-education” camps, and ongoing efforts to erase Uyghur cultural and religious identity.

In addition to raising awareness, the Uyghur representatives engaged in in-depth discussions with religious and community leaders about potential avenues for future cooperation. Many participants expressed strong interest in supporting Uyghur advocacy efforts and pledged to help raise awareness in their own countries and regions.

The Uyghur delegation emphasized that building partnerships with African civil society actors is vital for amplifying the voices of oppressed Uyghurs and countering Chinese disinformation campaigns.

Their participation in the Nairobi conference reflects the Uyghur movement’s growing outreach to the Global South and its ongoing commitment to peaceful advocacy, international solidarity, and the preservation of Uyghur identity and religious freedom in East Turkistan.