Uyghur man in critical condition in Xinjiang prison appeals for medical care. US lawmakers call for ban on seafood processed with forced Uyghur labor. Uyghur filmmaker detained contradicts China’s portrayal. Uyghur rights coalition urges US to address genocide concerns. Xinjiang’s foreign trade defies US sanctions. Uyghur families in Pakistan face deportation threat. Fiji pressured to withdraw support for UN statement on Uyghur rights violations. Uyghur rights group raises concerns over US-China relations.
Mexmutjan Memet, a Uyghur man serving a 20-year prison sentence in Xinjiang, is in critical condition due to poor prison conditions. His wife, Kifaye Ehsan, has called on international organizations to pressure the Chinese government to provide him with medical care and secure his release. U.S. lawmakers are urging for a ban on seafood processed in two Chinese provinces due to concerns about human rights abuses, including Uyghur forced labor. This adds to previous efforts to limit imports of Chinese goods over human rights issues and could strain U.S.-China relations. Uyghur filmmaker Ikram Nurmehmet’s recent detention reflects the ongoing arrests of Uyghurs and disputes China’s positive portrayal of living conditions for the ethnic group.
The Uyghur Human Rights Project has led a joint letter from various Uyghur organizations, urging U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to prioritize addressing the Uyghur genocide in talks with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The letter highlights the importance of human rights, the unjust detention of Uyghur political prisoners, and calls for the closure of “concentration camps” and the release of political prisoners. Despite U.S. sanctions, Xinjiang’s foreign trade has surged by 47% in the first three quarters of the year. However, Uyghur families in Pakistan are facing possible deportation amid a government order expelling illegal immigrants, leading to concerns for their safety and well-being.
Fiji is under pressure to withdraw its support from a United Nations motion urging China to address human rights violations in Xinjiang. China has rejected the statement and accused the U.K. of spreading lies and disinformation. This situation highlights Fiji’s challenge in balancing its ties with the West and China. Additionally, Uyghur rights activists have raised concerns over the risks to Uyghur human rights during the U.S.-China tourism summit and have urged U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo to address these concerns.
