US gives refugee priority to Chinese Uyghur Muslims

US lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill in Congress that would grant priority refugee status to Uyghurs fleeing persecution in China.

If passed into law, it will designate Uyghurs and other persecuted ethnic groups as Priority 2, or P-2, and expedites their ability to apply for asylum in the United States.

A representative of the US Democratic Party said that the terrible crimes that the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities are facing at the hands of the Chinese government is a global human rights emergency and the United States cannot turn its back on those fleeing this persecution.

The P-2 designation is for Uyghurs who are persecuted by China for expressing political opinions and religious beliefs or participating in political, religious, and cultural activities.

Those who receive this designation will receive special humanitarian assistance as well as assistance with resettlement and the US asylum process.

This action comes at a time when Uyghur rights groups have called on the international community to take concrete action against China for committing severe rights violations against the predominantly Muslim group in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.