World Uyghur Congress Urges UK to Confront China on Uyghur Human Rights During 2026 Visit
World Uyghur Congress Urges UK to Confront China on Uyghur Human Rights During 2026 Visit
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The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the British government to address the Uyghur genocide directly during the upcoming official visit to China in early January, according to The Organizer.
In a press release, the WUC emphasized that bilateral engagement presents a “critical opportunity” for the UK to demand accountability for human rights abuses in East Turkistan.
The WUC highlighted that over one million Uyghurs and approximately 650,000 Tibetans have been subjected to forced labour, while millions remain forcibly interned. Reports from UN experts warn that such practices may constitute crimes against humanity, including enslavement and forcible transfer.
The organisation also drew attention to transnational repression in the UK, citing cases in which academics researching Uyghur issues faced harassment, and Uyghur diaspora members received threats against themselves or their families.
WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun urged Starmer to raise the genocide and human rights violations substantively in bilateral talks, push for legislation banning imports linked to forced labour, and protect activists and scholars in the UK. The WUC stressed that millions of Uyghurs remain detained, women face forced sterilisation, and cultural and religious practices are being systematically suppressed under Chinese government policies.
