Radio Free Asia’s Uyghur Service has shut down, but journalists like Shohret Hoshur vow to continue exposing China’s genocide until East Turkistan is free.
Published on August 21, 2025, by Bitter Winter – In a powerful article titled “Farewell to Radio Free Asia—Not to the Uyghur Cause,” veteran journalist Shohret Hoshur announced the closure of Radio Free Asia’s Uyghur Service, marking the end of an era but not the end of the Uyghur struggle. Writing under his real name instead of the long-used pseudonym “Kok Bayraq,” Hoshur reflected on the station’s significance, the reasons behind its closure, and his unwavering commitment to continue speaking out against China’s persecution of Uyghurs.
According to Hoshur, the Uyghur Service was forced to shut down after the Trump administration cut funding, which left the organization unable to pay its employees. While many in the community expressed concern for the future of the Uyghur cause, Hoshur emphasized that the closure does not signify a reversal of U.S. policy but rather a shift in U.S. domestic and foreign policy priorities. He noted that bipartisan support for Uyghurs remains strong in Congress.
“RFA was more than a newsroom,” he wrote. “It was a weapon against China’s repression. We played a central role in having China officially labeled as a perpetrator of genocide. That label will not disappear. One day, China will pay the price for its crimes.”
Hoshur stressed that, despite the loss of this critical platform, Uyghur voices will not be silenced. He plans to continue his work through independent outlets such as Bitter Winter, Taipei Times, and Global Voices. From now on, he will publish under his real name.
The journalist also addressed concerns about livelihoods after the closure, noting that many Uyghur exiles were already accustomed to hardship. He himself has returned to work in real estate in the United States but emphasized that his dedication to the Uyghur cause remains unchanged: “No closure can silence our voices. These are weapons given to us by God, our people, and our teachers. We will remain in this painful but necessary struggle as long as we breathe.”
Hoshur concluded with a powerful message of perseverance: “The closure of RFA’s Uyghur Service is not the closure of our cause. Our mission to expose China’s genocide will continue, on different platforms, until the day East Turkistan is free.”
Co-founder and former vice president of the World Uyghur Congress, Enver Can, sent an open message to Hoshur:
“Dear Shohret,
Thank you for your wholehearted work, and congratulations! Your words are like a sword against the enemy, and a source of inspiration for us, especially for the Uyghur generations to come.
As the former USSR collapsed, President Bill Clinton commended the mission of RFE/RL Inc. as one of the best tools which contributed to the fall of the iron curtain.
As you have mentioned, we continue our just struggle with more determination until the Day of Victory comes and the Uyghur people enjoy the freedom they deserve!”
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