Attention was drawn to China's Islamophobia at the UN Session

Human rights activists, diplomats and other intellectuals pointed out the increase in Islamophobia targeting Uyghur Muslims and Kazakhs in China at a side event held at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The event was organized by CAP Liberte de Conscience, Uyghur Movement and the Center for Uyghur Studies.
The meeting brought together global experts, civil society leaders and policymakers to strategize on effective measures and promote international cooperation.
Abdulhakim Idris, head of the Uyghur Research Center, underlined the grave situation by saying that Uyghur Muslims and Kazakhs have been held in concentration camps since 2014.
POLICIES THAT ERASE UYGUR TRADITIONS ARE IMPLEMENTED
He condemned the actions of the Chinese government, such as the destruction of mosques and religious materials and the implementation of Sinicization policies that erased Uyghur traditions.
Idris said, “Millions of Uyghur Muslims and Kazakhs are being held in concentration camps under the pretext of radicalization. Thousands of mosques have been demolished, closed or repurposed since 2014. "The Chinese government burned the Qurans and destroyed religious materials."
Idris said, “In 2017, the CCP described Islam as a mental illness that should be eliminated within the scope of Sinicization. "Uyghur traditions are being forced to conform to Chinese norms and Islamic elements are being erased from their architecture," he added.
Rushan Abbas, the founder and executive director of the Uyghur Movement, talked about historical grievances, explained the decades-long oppression of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and said that it implemented genocidal policies under the guise of fighting terrorism.
Rushan Abbas said, “In 1949, the CCP seized our lands and began to oppress our people, who have rich resources and strategic importance. "My people endured the genocidal policies carried out by the CCP under the name of fighting terrorism."
United States Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council Michele Taylor issued a strong condemnation, describing the situation in East Turkistan (Xinjiang) as potentially constituting international crimes, including crimes against humanity.
CHINA'S GENOCIDE POLICIES WERE CONDEMNED
Michele Taylor said, “I would like to state from the outset that we condemn in the strongest terms the policies in East Turkistan that, in the High Commissioner's assessment, could amount to international crimes, including crimes against humanity. "The United States has constantly called on the PRC (People's Republic of China) to end human rights violations in East Turkistan."
He called for immediate action to demand the release of people arbitrarily detained, to stop human rights violations and to end discriminatory policies in East Turkistan.
A CALL WAS MADE TO END THE OPPRESSION
“We call on the PRC to release all individuals arbitrarily detained in East Turkistan (Xinjiang), to stop harassment, surveillance and threats both at home and abroad, to end discrimination based on culture, language, religion or belief, and to abolish policies of forced assimilation. "We also demand an end to the policies of forced labor, forced marriage, birth control, sterilization, abortion and family separation in East Turkistan."
At the event, the urgency of addressing human rights violations in East Turkistan and securing the honor and rights of the affected Muslim communities was emphasized, while global concerns were increasing and a call for justice was made for the people of East Turkistan.