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Tell congress to pass legislation on human rights abuses in Xinjiang, China

Right now, it is estimated that up to one million people — predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities — are being arbitrarily detained in “transformation-through-education” centres “in China’s northwestern Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). Among them are Uighurs, Kazakhs and other ethnic minority groups whose religious and cultural practices are key to their identity.

The detentions appear to be part of an effort by the Chinese government to wipe out religious beliefs and aspects of cultural identity in order to enforce political loyalty for the State and the Communist Party of China.

Two key pieces of legislation that address the human rights violations being perpetrated by Chinese authorities in the XUAR have been introduced in the United States Congress: the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019, sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and 20 other Senators (S. 178); and the UIGHUR Act of 2018 (H.R.1025), sponsored by Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and four other legislators.

The Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 mandates several reports on aspects of the crackdown, including a report by the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the State Department, on the regional security threat posed by the crackdown, the frequency with which Central Asian countries are forcibly returning Turkic Muslim refugees and asylum seekers, and containing a list of Chinese companies involved in the construction and operation of the camps. The State Department would also be required to report separately regarding the scale and scope of the crackdown.

The UIGHUR Act includes key provisions that would increase global advocacy by the United States on this issue at the United Nations, with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Central Asian states. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of Commerce shall deny applications for licenses by any companies for export to China of any machine learning, pattern recognition, artificial intelligence, or biometric technology unless they provide certification that it will not be knowingly used to facilitate the mass arbitrary detention of Uighurs, Kazakhs and other ethnic minority groups.

The mass incarcerations of Uighurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in China is an afront to international human rights law. The new Congress needs to assert its leadership on this key human rights issue and swiftly pass these two pieces of legislation without delay. Please take the next few minutes to email your Congressional representatives and urge them to support the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 (S.178) and the UIGHUR Act of 2018 (H.R.1025).

⬇ Make Your Voice Heard ⬇

Dear {contact_data~lastName}:

I am writing to urge you to lend your support to the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 (S. 178) in the Senate or the UIGHUR Act of 2018 (H.R.1025) in the House.

Up to one million Uighurs and other ethnic minorities are being arbitrarily detained in so-called “transformation-through-education” centres in what is an afront to international human rights law. This legislation will send an important signal to the Chinese government, as well as countries around the world, that the persecution, arbitrary detention, torture and other ill-treatment of the Uighur and other ethnic minorities will not be tolerated.

Last year, Amnesty International conducted interviews across four continents and with over 100 people who had lost touch with their relatives and friends inside the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR), resulting in the publication of China: Where are they? Time for answers about mass detentions in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.  This report documented cases of political indoctrination, punishment from verbal abuse to food deprivation, solitary confinement, beatings and use of restraints and stress positions in mass detention camps. There have also been allegations of torture and deaths inside the facilities, including suicides of those unable to bear the mistreatment.

The Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 (S. 178) and the UIGHUR Act of 2018 (H.R.1025) include key elements that will demonstrate the United States’ condemnation of these abuses and are aimed at preventing future human rights violations.  Among these are:

•	Requires a report by the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the State Department, regarding the regional security threat posed by the crackdown and the frequency with which Central Asian countries are forcibly returning Turkic Muslim refugees and asylum seekers. The report will also include a list of Chinese companies involved in the construction and operation of the camps.
•	Requires an FBI report on efforts to provide information to and protect U.S. citizens and LPRs (including Uyghurs) from Chinese government harassment and intimidation.
•	Requires a State Department report regarding the scale and scope of the crackdown.
•	Increases advocacy by the United States on this issue at the United Nations, with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and with governments of Central Asian states, and address the issue of non-refoulement specifically.
•	Mandates that the Secretary of Commerce shall deny applications for licenses by any companies for export to China of any machine learning, pattern recognition, artificial intelligence, or biometric technology unless they provide certification that it will not be knowingly used to facilitate the mass arbitrary detention of Uighurs.

This legislation takes the important step of ensuring U.S. policy will oppose the mass arbitrary detention of Uighur and other ethnic minorities in the XUAR; support efforts to combat governmental discrimination against ethnic minorities within the People’s Republic of China or to limit them from travelling domestically or internationally; and holds senior regional officials accountable for gross human rights violations.

It is essential that the Chinese government hear the concerns being voiced across the world about what is happening in the XUAR.  I urge you to add your voice to this international chorus and pass The Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 (S. 178) and the UIGHUR Act of 2018 (H.R.1025).

Respectfully,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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