Man Accused of Spying on Uyghurs in Sweden Was Exiled Group’s Spokesman

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) announced on Wednesday that Dilshat Reshit, detained in Sweden on suspicion of spying for China, had served as its Chinese-language spokesman since 2004, RFA reported. Reshit was removed from his position following an emergency meeting, citing the WUC’s commitment to integrity and community safety.

Swedish authorities reported that an unnamed Uyghur resident of Stockholm was detained over the weekend for allegedly collecting intelligence on fellow Uyghurs for Chinese intelligence services. The WUC identified the individual as Reshit.

The WUC warned of the extensive reach of Chinese espionage networks and called for greater cooperation with foreign governments on counterintelligence. It emphasized that China’s efforts to silence dissent abroad threaten both Uyghur diaspora communities and host countries’ sovereignty and security.

China has consistently denied allegations of human rights abuses against Uyghurs, despite international criticism, including a 2022 UN report suggesting crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.