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World Uyghur Leader Looks To Malaysia For Support

World Uyghur Leader Looks To Malaysia For Support

WUC expressed concern that the situation of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang (East Turkestan) is worsening.

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The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has expressed its deepest gratitude to Malaysia for its support to the Uyghurs. 

WUC co-founder and executive committee chairman Omer Kanat affirmed that support of Malaysia for the Uyghur people in these critical circumstances is vital to keep their hopes alive.

Malaysia have always supported the struggle to achieve our rights, especially self-determination, the end of the severe ill-treatment and arbitrary detention of Uyghurs in state-sponsored internment camps in Xinjiang (East Turkestan), China.

Human rights advocate Omer Kanat to TRP on his pride in the relations between the Uyghur people and Malaysia.

Kanat, who was recently in Malaysia on an official visit, met with government leaders, academicians and non-governmental organizations.

Among others, Kanat met with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul at the Parliament.

Kanat hopes the good relationship between Malaysia and China could persuade Beijing to engage with the world constructively on the Uyghur issue.

The issue of Uyghur Muslims in China is a sensitive and complex topic, and the Malaysian government has taken a cautious approach in addressing it. Malaysia also has close economic ties with China, this may be a factor in the government’s approach to the issue.

Human rights advocate Omer Kanat to TRP on why Malaysia has not explicitly condemned China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims.

He pointed out that Malaysia has maintained a policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of other countries, including China.

However, Malaysian civil society organizations and religious groups, such as the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation (Mapim), have spoken out against the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China.

Kanat, who is also Executive Director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) added that future plans are ongoing to establish an Uyghur-based NGO in Malaysia, to be staffed and led by WUC.

At the same time, Kanat is optimistic that Malaysian lawmakers would debate the Uyghur issue in the Parliament.

All these, he said, are to ensure the Malaysian public remains well-informed on the Uyghur situation in East Turkestan.

Walking A Geopolitical Tightrope

Some Malaysian politicians and activists have also called for the Malaysian government to take a stronger stance on the issue and to pressure China to end its policies towards Uyghurs.

However, Malaysia has also taken steps to ensure that it does not become complicit in human rights abuses against Uyghurs.

For example, Malaysia has stated that it will not deport Uyghur refugees back to China, despite pressure from the Chinese government.

Malaysia also abstained in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) motion to debate the alleged human rights violations.

READ MORE: Malaysia Has No Opinion On Uyghurs In China, Abstains From UN Vote

READ MORE: With New NGO, Malaysians Show Support For Uyghurs

Overall, while the Malaysian government has not taken a strong public stance on the issue, voices within Malaysian civil society continue to advocate for action on behalf of the Uyghur Muslims in China.

Malaysia has strong economic ties with China, and China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner.

China is a significant destination for Malaysian exports, particularly commodities such as palm oil, rubber, and timber.

Additionally, Chinese companies have invested heavily in Malaysia’s infrastructure projects, including the construction of ports, railways, and pipelines.

The War On The Uyghurs

The Uyghurs are a Turkic ethnic group native to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, also known as East Turkestan.

They are one of China’s 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities, and their population is estimated to be around 12 million.

The Uyghurs have their own distinct language, culture, and customs that are different from those of the Han Chinese majority.

Historically, they have been a predominantly Muslim community, and their culture and religion have been influenced by Central Asian, Persian, and Islamic traditions.

In recent years, the Chinese government has been accused of suppressing Uyghur culture and religion, as well as engaging in human rights abuses against Uyghur people.


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