London Emergency Protest by Uyghur and rights activists against visiting Chinese delegation

Dismayed by the news of UK trip by Erkin Tuniyaz, Chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (aka East Turkestan) and his meeting with senior British officials, Uyghurs and rights activists are staging an Emergency Protest on 13th February from 10am to 5pm outside the Foreign Office.

The Stop Uyghur Genocide’s protest e-leaflet reads: “FCDO must not engage with agent of Uyghur Genocide Erkin Tuniyaz”.

An Uyghur-origin Erkin Tuniyaz, who has been a senior Chinese government official for nearly 15 years, was personally sanctioned by the US government in December 2021 alongside other Chinese officials for their brutal treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China’s occupied East Turkestan.

Earlier this year, on 18 January 2023, Tuniyaz was formally anointed as the Chairman by the 14th People’s Congress of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He is also a member of the 20th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

According to Politico, Tuniyaz’s trip was unfolded after London-based Uyghur activists were asked for their views ahead of the official meeting by the British Foreign Office. The leaked email seen by Politico, which was first reported by The Guardian, reads: “The Governor of Xinjiang is planning to visit the UK next week, followed by other European countries. We’ve been told that he intends to meet a range of stakeholders in order to discuss the situation in Xinjiang. We’ve agreed to meet him at senior official level, and intend to use the opportunity to press for a change in China’s approach and to make requests on specific issues, including individual cases.

“We’re really keen to make the most of this opportunity to push for tangible changes on the ground,” the Foreign Office email added.

Rahima Mahmut, Executive Director of the Stop Uyghur Genocide, who is also the UK Director of the World Uyghur Congress, will be joined by the UK Uyghur Community and rights activists outside the Foreign Office. During their protest throughout the day, there will be speeches and solidarity visit by MPs as well as submission of petition by Uyghur activists and survivors to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Join the protest, if you can!