Activist urges M'sian govt to conduct probe into Uyghurs' plight

An activist is urging the Malaysian government to conduct its own investigation into China’s alleged human rights abuses against Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, despite Beijing’s repeated denials.

Washington-based Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) executive director Omer Kanat expressed disappointment over the silence of Muslim-majority countries on the issue, contrasting it with the vocal stance taken by Western nations.

"There has been no resolution of condemnation, and no official inquiry or hearing, in any Muslim-majority country," said Omer (above) while delivering his remarks at the "Reassessing Human Security in Central and South Asia" forum last Sunday.

In October 2022, the UN Human Rights Council rejected a motion to hold a debate on alleged human rights abuses by China against Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

The motion, led by Western nations, called for a debate on the reported abuses against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China’s western Xinjiang region. It was co-sponsored by the UK, Turkey, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Australia, and Lithuania.

The vote among the 47-member council saw 19 countries voting against the motion, 17 in favour, and 11 (including Malaysia) abstaining.

Countries voting against the motion included Bolivia, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Gabon, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Senegal, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela.

Among those abstaining were Argentina, Armenia, Benin, Brazil, Gambia, India, Libya, Malawi, Mexico, and Ukraine.

Islamophobia

In the speech text later shared with Malaysiakini, Omer claimed that China had successfully recruited “non-democratic governments” to deny accusations of Islamophobia and genocide.

"Of course, the Chinese Communist Party continues to shout loudly that any criticism of its actions is a plot by the West to prevent China’s rise.

"It floods the media in many Muslim-majority countries with stories saying the suffering of Uyghurs is, quote, 'the lie of the century.'"

He also highlighted how Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Salman and former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan defended China’s actions against Uyghurs.

Omer criticised the silence of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations Anti-Islamophobia Day on the issue.

"But when we are talking about Islamophobia, we cannot ignore China as an extreme and horrifying case. Uyghurs in the diaspora suffer daily nightmares about their loved ones.

"It is like adding salt to our wounds when we see that so many Muslim leaders, who strongly protest Islamophobia around the world, are completely silent about China."

While acknowledging the support of some Malaysian NGOs for the Uyghur cause, Omer called on the Malaysian government to take proactive measures, including conducting its own investigations and issuing reports.

"We need a parliamentary resolution condemning Islamophobia, and the atrocity crimes committed against Uyghurs by the government of China.

"We need a Parliamentary Uyghur Friendship Group to examine and propose policy responses - such as stopping trade in goods made by the forced labour of Uyghurs," he said.

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