World Uyghur Congress Asks Marco Rubio to Address Chinese Repression During Uzbekistan Trip

The World Uyghur Congress has appealed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address China's transnational repression of Uyghurs during his upcoming visit to Uzbekistan next week.

The organization highlighted that Central Asia serves both as a safe haven for Uyghurs escaping persecution in Xinjiang and as a region where they face intimidation, surveillance, arbitrary detention, and forced returns to China due to Beijing's pressure.

Recalling past diplomatic efforts, the World Uyghur Congress noted that former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo publicly raised the Uyghur issue with Central Asian leaders in 2019 and 2020, urging them to halt deportations to China. The group stated that Rubio currently has a significant opportunity to reaffirm American backing for Uyghur rights in the region.

Furthermore, the organization requested that Washington pressure Central Asian governments to reject Chinese demands regarding the monitoring, detention, or silencing of Uyghurs, while also demanding an absolute end to the forced transfer of individuals back to Chinese authorities where they face serious human rights violations.