Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) on August 22, 2025, marked the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, highlighting the plight of the Uyghur people facing systematic persecution in East Turkistan.
CFU noted that China’s policies have criminalized Uyghurs’ right to practice Islam, dismantling nearly all avenues for religious life. Reports detail detentions of religious leaders, confiscation and burning of Qur’ans, destruction of mosques, and the banning of Islamic education. These measures are compounded by mass internment, forced labor, sterilizations, child abductions, family separations, and intrusive surveillance—steps CFU describes as a coordinated effort to erase Uyghur identity.
“As we observe this day, we remember the countless people whose faith has made them targets of violence and repression,” said Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of CFU. “For Uyghurs, even the simplest acts of devotion, like fasting, praying, or teaching children their religion, have been turned into crimes under China’s genocidal campaign. The international community cannot remain indifferent. Safeguarding freedom of belief is inseparable from defending the very survival of the Uyghur people. Holding China accountable is not only essential to protect Uyghurs’ rights, but also vital to uphold the principles of freedom and democracy worldwide.”
CFU urged governments, institutions, and civil society to move beyond commemoration and take concrete action to defend religious freedom and bring perpetrators to justice. The organization stressed that honoring victims requires not only remembrance but also decisive steps to prevent ongoing and future atrocities.
Be First to Comment