Uyghur Advocates Urge Stronger U.S. Action on Xinjiang Human Rights Violations

Uyghur advocates are pressing the incoming Trump administration to intensify efforts against human rights abuses in Xinjiang, China, where Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities face severe oppression, ANI reported yesterday.

Following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, leaders within the Uyghur American community are calling for the continuation of policies that previously classified China’s actions as genocide.

Under the Trump administration, sanctions were imposed on Chinese officials linked to mass detentions and forced labor. Nury Turkel, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, emphasized the bipartisan support for Uyghur rights and the national security implications of these issues. Advocates, including Rushan Abbas of the Campaign for Uyghurs, are urging robust enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and stronger sanctions against implicated Chinese entities.

Additionally, Salih Hudayar, prime minister of the East Turkistan Government in Exile, is advocating for the formal recognition of Xinjiang as an occupied territory. Despite these calls, concerns persist that economic ties with China may overshadow human rights advocacy, complicating the U.S. response to the ongoing crisis.