Alleged Chinese transnational repression of Uyghurs

The World Uyghur Congress and the Campaign for Uyghurs have raised concerns regarding alleged transnational repression by the Chinese government against Uyghur and Turkic activists living abroad.

Initial reports highlighted specific incidents, such as the detention and deportation of activist Dolkun Isa in Morocco and protests in Germany marking the anniversary of the Yarkand massacre. Organizations also expressed concern that new legislation in Kazakhstan could be utilized to target activists.

Subsequent research involving interviews and internal Chinese government documents has corroborated claims of a coordinated system designed to silence the diaspora. Reported tactics include surveillance, intimidation, threats against family members, and the confiscation of passports. These actions are characterized by advocacy groups as a strategy to obstruct evidence of human rights abuses and encourage self-censorship within international communities.

A recent report by Human Rights Watch has expanded these allegations to include the targeting of Uyghur Australians. The report claims that Chinese authorities are exploiting separated families by interrogating individuals visiting relatives in Xinjiang.

According to the findings, visitors face intense surveillance, including mandatory stays in government-designated hotels and requirements to report daily activities. Interviewees reported being subjected to multiple interrogations, including one session lasting over seven hours, during which authorities allegedly sought contact information and addresses of prominent Uyghur activists and organizations in Australia. Human Rights Watch has called on the Australian government to enact legislation to combat such transnational repression and establish secure reporting channels.