Uyghur Congress urges German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to flag human rights violations to China in his upcoming visit

In a joint letter to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) urged him to raise the issue of the human rights situation and atrocities in Tibet, East Turkistan, Hong Kong, Southern Mongolia and China itself during his upcoming trip to China.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is scheduled to go to China on a four-day visit this month.
In the letter, the WUC has asked the German Chancellor to address issues that concern the situation in Tibet, East Turkistan, Hong Kong, southern Mongolia and China itself.
"On the occasion of your upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, we as a coalition of human rights organizations are asking you to forcefully stand up for the rights of people living in Germany who have fled the repression of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and who are committed to the rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hongkongers and Chinese," WUC wrote to the chancellor in the letter.
It said the federal government's China strategy, adopted in July 2023, has this goal set “to better represent our values and interests in the complex relationship with China."
The letter said the serious human rights violations of the Uyghurs in East Turkistan (Xinjiang), about whom the United Nations also reports, the situation in Tibet, the situation in Hong Kong, the situation of ethnic and religious communities as well as the clearly worsening situation of human rights defenders should be taken up.
The WUC has asked the chancellor to take up with the Chinese government the persecution of religious minorities in China and the repressive policies of the Chinese Communist Party.
The WUC, regarding the situation in Tibet, demanded an end to the Chinese government's Sinicization policy towards the language, religion and culture of the Tibetans, in particular an immediate closure of the forced boarding schools for Tibetan children and an end to the forced resettlement of nomads and rural population.
It also demanded the preservation of the freedom of religion and belief of Tibetan Buddhists, in particular the sole right of the Dalai Lama , without state intervention, over his reincarnation or that of Buddhist dignitaries and the release of the kidnapped Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.
The organization's demands include an end to torture and ill-treatment, systematic violations of freedom of expression and assembly, in particular the release of peaceful protesters such as those in the eastern Tibetan region of Derge, as well as the release of Tibetan human rights and environmental defenders such as Anya Sengdra, Dorjee Daktal, Kelsang Choklang, Dhongye, Rinchen Namdol, Tsultrim Gonpo, Jangchup Ngodup, Sogru Abhu and Namesy.
It also demanded the resumption of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue.
Regarding East Turkistan (Xinjiang), the WUC demanded an immediate end to the genocide or crimes against humanity against the Uyghurs, as already expressed in the special report of the UN Human Rights Commissioner, the Research Service of the German Bundestag, in resolutions of the European Parliament and in decisions of eleven other parliaments.
It demanded an immediate release of all Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in internment camps, all human rights defenders and all persons unlawfully detained for peacefully expressing their opinions, practicing their religion or defending their culture.
"We demand an immediate end to the cruel assimilation policy against the Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples, in particular the cultural identity, language and traditions of the Uyghurs must be respected and protected in order to preserve their rights and freedoms as a people," the letter read.
"Our demands include the consistent implementation of the 'Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights' and the immediate end to all forms of Uighur forced labor and modern slavery in China," it added.
Regarding transnational repression, the World Uyghur Congress demanded the end of intimidation and threats to people in Germany or their families in China, in particular no searches by security authorities of relatives in Tibet, East Turkistan, Hong Kong, southern Mongolia and China as well as no harassment of people in Germany through telephone calls, stalking, physical attacks or doxing.