Chinese authorities conducting Uyghur DNA sequencing for organ harvesting, expert reveals
Chinese authorities are under scrutiny for reportedly gathering genetic data from the Muslim Uyghur minority to facilitate a forced organ transplant scheme targeted at Muslim medical tourists from Gulf nations, RFA reported.
During a recent U.S. congressional committee hearing, experts revealed that Uyghur individuals are being used as “donors,” transported from Xinjiang to hospitals in eastern China.
Despite China’s official stance that the practice of forced organ harvesting from executed prisoners was discontinued in 2015, allegations persist regarding the targeted harvesting of organs from Muslim Uyghurs.
To overcome logistical challenges in the organ transplant process, medical personnel are said to employ portable “ECMO machines” to maintain Uyghurs in a state of suspended animation, enabling the extraction of multiple organs from a single individual.
Concerns have been raised about the collection and utilization of Uyghur genetic data for organ matching purposes, potentially leading to exploitative practices.
The lucrative nature of China’s organ transplant industry, conducting a substantial number of operations annually, is supported by a comprehensive DNA database.
This database facilitates swift organ matches for recipients, contrasting with the lengthy waitlists in other countries.
Despite China’s official denial of organ harvesting from prisoners, the revelations from the congressional hearing shed light on the ongoing controversy surrounding organ transplant practices in China.
