Authoritarian reach inside your democracy

So that's a systematic isolation of families abroad.

The

Chinese government targeted peaceful expression of Uyghur identity, let it be ethnic, cultural identity or religious identity or expressions.

You know, Chinese government targeted Uyghurs for simple things like going to mosque regularly or having a Quran recitation in their phone.

This is outside the country or inside? Inside the country, right? Inside the country, many people face long-term imprisonment simply for traveling abroad to countries which the Chinese authorities deemed sensitive.

So, you know, that is a crackdown based on one's distinct identity and culture and religious affiliation.

And all of a sudden, prominent professors at reputable Chinese universities became a terrorist, right? Because the Chinese government says, oh, we don't like you anymore.

And then they put them in prison.

So the Chinese government says it protects the rights of Uyghurs.

Uyghurs are living happy life in Xinjiang.

You know, it dismisses the documented evidence of crimes against humanity.

Even the OSHR, the UN Human Rights Body, released a report in 2022 alleging that the Chinese government's violations in the region may amount to crimes against humanity.

And it has been a decade for the Chinese government's impunity for its crimes against the Uyghurs.

And with the international pressure and with people like me speaking out, the Chinese government is now trying to present a public image of normalcy in Xinjiang.

They're inviting diplomats, media, or even Uyghurs to participate in propaganda towards strictly surveilled, orchestrated, you know, propaganda tours to the region to say, you see, these people are happy and they are presenting Uyghurs as exotic dancing creatures that are existing within the state surveillance and repression.

However, at the same time, targeting Uyghurs for being who they are.

And people in those groups that you described that are invited in, are they able to travel freely within Xinjiang or are they in a kind of organized tour and they only speak to who they're allowed to speak to? Are you aware?

So that's a systematic isolation of families abroad.

The

Chinese government targeted peaceful expression of Uyghur identity, let it be ethnic, cultural identity or religious identity or expressions.

You know, Chinese government targeted Uyghurs for simple things like going to mosque regularly or having a Quran recitation in their phone.

This is outside the country or inside? Inside the country, right? Inside the country, many people face long-term imprisonment simply for traveling abroad to countries which the Chinese authorities deemed sensitive.

So, you know, that is a crackdown based on one's distinct identity and culture and religious affiliation.

And all of a sudden, prominent professors at reputable Chinese universities became a terrorist, right? Because the Chinese government says, oh, we don't like you anymore.

And then they put them in prison.

So the Chinese government says it protects the rights of Uyghurs.

Uyghurs are living happy life in Xinjiang.

You know, it dismisses the documented evidence of crimes against humanity.

Even the OSHR, the UN Human Rights Body, released a report in 2022 alleging that the Chinese government's violations in the region may amount to crimes against humanity.

And it has been a decade for the Chinese government's impunity for its crimes against the Uyghurs.

And with the international pressure and with people like me speaking out, the Chinese government is now trying to present a public image of normalcy in Xinjiang.

They're inviting diplomats, media, or even Uyghurs to participate in propaganda towards strictly surveilled, orchestrated, you know, propaganda tours to the region to say, you see, these people are happy and they are presenting Uyghurs as exotic dancing creatures that are existing within the state surveillance and repression.

However, at the same time, targeting Uyghurs for being who they are.

And people in those groups that you described that are invited in, are they able to travel freely within Xinjiang or are they in a kind of organized tour and they only speak to who they're allowed to speak to? Are you aware?