Istiqlal English (2025)

14/07/2025

China described its relations with Russia as "the most strategically valuable" among its relationships with major world powers.

During a meeting held in Beijing between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the director of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Wang described Chinese-Russian relations as "the most stable, mature, and strategically valuable among major power relations in today's world." He added in his remarks: "At this stage, it is necessary to deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation, promote mutual development and prosperity between both sides, and jointly address the crises brought by a turbulent and changing world."

Lavrov's visit to Beijing came after his visit to North Korea, and amid circumstances marked by the war in Ukraine and tense relations with the United States.

During the talks, several hot issues were discussed, including the Korean Peninsula, the Ukraine crisis, the Iranian nuclear file, and Israel's war on Gaza.

Despite China's repeated declaration of its "neutral" position in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the head of Ukraine's foreign intelligence service, Oleh Ivashchenko, revealed that China supplied 20 Russian military factories with strategic materials.

He also confirmed that Ukrainian intelligence agencies were able to obtain information about at least five cooperation deals between China and Russia in the field of military aviation during the period from 2024 to 2025.

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that Ukraine obtained information indicating that no fewer than 155 Chinese are participating in the war on Russia's side, and that China is supplying Russia with weapons and ammunition.

In the sanctions list recently announced by the Ukrainian government, three Chinese companies were included alongside a number of Russian institutions and companies.

14/07/2025

In light of the massacre anniversary, how do you maintain hope? What keeps this issue alive in your conscience?

The Turkistani people are Muslims, rooted in their identity, who have preserved their religion, customs, and traditions for more than 1400 years. Despite the prohibition of religious manifestations and rituals, the banning of hijab, and the closure of mosques, these people still insist on clinging to their faith and identity as much as possible, challenging injustice and persecution with rare steadfastness.

As for us abroad, we pledge to God to remain faithful to this cause and to strive with all our energy to support it. We raise new generations to carry this burden, not as a geographical issue concerning only East Turkistan, but as part of the major issues of the Islamic nation, which require awareness, education, and continuous struggle until achieving freedom, justice, and dignity.

A final word you would like to address to Arab readers in general, and Tunisian readers in particular, at the end of this dialogue?

My final message is directed to all components of society: journalists, human rights activists, academics, artists, imams, educators, and Quran teachers. To everyone who carries a living conscience: this is your religious and humanitarian responsibility. Introduce people to the issue of East Turkistan in your homes, schools, mosques, and universities. This is not just a political or religious issue, but an issue of human dignity and moral duty. I have conveyed the message to you through this platform, and it remains for each of you to bear your responsibility before God and history.

14/07/2025

What is your message to Tunisian elites - journalists, academics, and intellectuals - regarding what is happening in East Turkistan? How can they contribute practically?

Through this dialogue, I address a special appeal to the Tunisian people and Arab peoples in general. The issue of East Turkistan is no less important than the Palestinian issue, as it is a humanitarian, religious, and doctrinal issue par excellence. From this perspective, media institutions are required to play their role in introducing this tragedy within their societies, and to dedicate a permanent space for it within their editorial priorities.

I also call on Tunisian human rights organisations to undertake their responsibilities, to seriously follow what is happening in East Turkistan, and to raise their voice loudly in regional and international forums. Preachers, orators, and mosque imams should make this issue part of their sermons and preaching, whether in Friday sermons or educational institutes, because it is an issue related to a religious and moral duty that cannot be postponed.

I also call on professors and teachers in educational schools and Quranic institutes to include this issue in awareness curricula. As for academics, writers, and artists, whether in Tunisia or elsewhere, they are invited to move their pens and brushes in favor of doing justice to these oppressed people.

I conclude with a practical call, which is to boycott Chinese goods whose profits contribute to killing our brothers, just as we boycotted European goods in support of the Palestinian cause. Preachers should not forget their Turkistani brothers in sincere prayer. This is some of what the noble Tunisian people can offer in support of their brothers there.

14/07/2025

How do you view Arab and Islamic media coverage of the East Turkistan issue? Do you see shortcomings? What is the reason in your opinion?

Unfortunately, there is a great shortcoming, even complete neglect. Whether from independent or official media outlets, this issue is not given any real attention. There are multiple reasons: first, our failure as Turkistanis to adequately convey our voice, and second, the pe*******on of Chinese media in the Arab world. China spends about 1.5 billion dollars annually just to beautify its image in the Middle East, and there are Arab institutions that speak on its behalf. Also, political and economic relations between Arab countries and China contribute to this blackout.

To what extent have international organisations or the United Nations contributed to stopping what is happening? Are there legal tools that can be activated in the future?

The United Nations and some Western countries issue reports and parliamentary resolutions condemning what is happening and describing it as genocide, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. But these are non-binding resolutions. There are no real international legal mechanisms yet to stop China in its tracks. Some Chinese companies that exploit forced labour have been boycotted, but the impact is still limited. We need real political and economic pressure.

You head an association concerned with Uyghur media. What is the role of the free word in resisting cultural genocide? How do you balance journalism and human rights activism?

Our work is based on two complementary aspects. The media aspect, as I mentioned earlier, is extremely important for conveying the word of truth and transmitting the voice of East Turkistan to the Arab and Islamic world in particular, and to the entire world in general. We are preparing, God willing, at the end of this month to organize a media seminar that you will have the honour of attending, and through which we will seek to convey the voice of our people and their suffering to the largest possible number of parties and institutions around the world.

14/07/2025

What has changed - or not changed - since that massacre until today? Can we talk about improvement, or conversely, about an escalation in violations against the people of East Turkistan?

Unfortunately, the situation has worsened greatly, especially since 2014, when Chinese authorities began building hundreds of detention camps, which I compare to N**i camps. The number of detainees in them is estimated between 5 to 8 million people. Millions of others have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 25 years. More than 16,000 mosques have been demolished, and some have been converted into dance halls or commercial museums. We are facing a systematic policy to exterminate an entire identity: race, culture, and Islamic architecture.

Yes, there is systematic ethnic, cultural, and architectural genocide. Nothing has changed, but suffering and injustice have intensified, and despite this, the Turkestani people remain steadfast against this greatest unjust and tyrannical dragon.

Through your work in journalism and human rights, how do you describe the nature of Chinese policies toward the Uyghurs? Are they cultural assimilation policies, or do they go beyond that to systematic extermination?

We, as Turkistanis, have lived with China a complete genocidal policy. China views East Turkistan as a strategic source of energy and natural resources, such as oil, coal, gold, silver, uranium, and other natural materials, as well as a vital location for its national security. Therefore, it seeks to erase the Turkistani identity. The message that China sends is clear: "Either you become Chinese, or you don't deserve to live."

14/07/2025

To begin, we welcome you to this special interview. How would you introduce yourself to readers in Tunisia and the Arab world? What is your professional and human rights background?

Abdul Warith Abdul Khaliq: Peace be upon you and God's mercy. I am your brother, Abdul Warith Abdul Khaliq al-Turkistani. Since 2006, we have been working in Istanbul in the media and human rights fields, focusing on conveying the situation in East Turkistan in terms of violations and introducing this cause to the Arab and Islamic world, in particular, and to the world in general. I currently head the "East Turkistan Association for Journalism and Media," in addition to the "East Turkistan News Agency," which broadcasts its content in several languages: Arabic, English, Turkish, Turkmen, and Indonesian. We also work through various social media platforms in the service of Islamic causes in general, foremost among them the Palestinian and Turkistani causes.

Today marks the anniversary of the Urumqi massacre that occurred on July 5, 2009, which is considered a pivotal moment in contemporary Uyghur history. How do you tell us what happened on that bloody night?

The truth is that the issue goes back to much deeper backgrounds. Since China's occupation of East Turkestan in 1949, repression has never stopped. Even before 2009, young men and women were being taken inside China for forced labour in factories, at very meager wages. Among Chinese policies were attempts at ethnic cleansing. In one of the incidents, Chinese people armed with sticks and iron clubs attacked those factories, resulting in deaths and injuries among Turkistani workers. The families tried to communicate with the Chinese authorities, but to no avail. When the families went out on July 5 to the government building in Urumqi to demand justice, the Chinese response was bloody: armed civilian armies, and more than 50,000 soldiers surrounded the city, and the internet and communications were completely cut off. It was a bloody night by all measures.

14/07/2025

CHINA ESTABLISHES FIRST GENE BANK IN THE CITY

The Tianshan Net agency, one of the propaganda tools of the Chinese regime, reported on July 13 that China has established the first gene bank in southern East Turkistan, funded by the Chinese "Huada" Group, within what is called the "Huada Precision Medicine Laboratory in Southern Xinjiang," which was established in the Dongcheng branch of the People's Hospital in Kashgar city.

The report clarified that the laboratory contains advanced medical equipment, including gene analysis tools, gene bank material preparation systems, biochemical analysis devices, mass spectrometry equipment, and other equipment used in molecular medical examinations.

According to Chinese authorities, this project aims to provide accurate and highly efficient diagnostic services, aimed at early disease detection and providing treatment at the appropriate time. They also announced their intention to conduct free DNA tests to detect common diseases among the population, in addition to preventing infectious and chronic diseases.

However, given the Chinese regime's long history of collecting genetic data from Uyghurs, this move raises significant concerns. According to previous independent reports and studies, genetic data collected from Uyghurs has been used for suspicious purposes, including potential human rights violations, and even allegations of China's involvement in illegal organ trafficking from Uyghur victims.

China's announcement of conducting "free" genetic tests in Kashgar has raised alarm among Uyghurs in exile, who fear that this move may be a new part of the ongoing campaign of control and violations against their people, this time through "medicine."

14/07/2025

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused China of undermining the sovereignty of neighbouring countries and threatening the security of the South China Sea region through its expansionist claims.

In a statement published on the official website of the US State Department, Rubio said that China continues to ignore the 2016 international court ruling regarding the South China Sea dispute, which came within the framework of the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, emphasizing that Beijing continues to make illegal claims to maritime territories and increases its aggressive movements toward its neighbors.

Rubio added that "China's broad-ranging claims directly violate the sovereignty of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia, and undermine peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region."

The American Secretary affirmed that his country will continue to support a free and open Indo-Pacific region, calling on China to comply with the 2016 international court ruling and abandon dangerous and destabilising behaviours.

It is noteworthy that the Chinese regime relies on a map it announced in 1947, through which it claims sovereignty over 80% of the South China Sea, a region rich in natural resources that is also disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia.

14/07/2025

The United States has asked two of its closest allies – Japan and Australia – to clarify their positions in the event of a military conflict with China over the Taiwan issue.

According to the Financial Times, the US Department of Defence (Pentagon) has formally requested Japan and Australia to specify the role each could play if war breaks out between the United States and China against the backdrop of escalating tensions over Taiwan.

According to the report, former US Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby recently discussed this file with military officials from both countries, and posed a direct question during the meetings: "If China attacks Taiwan, and this leads to the United States entering into direct military confrontation with China, what would your policy be? And what role would you play?"

The American request reflects growing concern within Washington about the possibility of military escalation in the Taiwan Strait, and its preemptive effort to ensure clear support from its regional allies in the event of a confrontation.

12/07/2025

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence reported detecting 14 Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and one official ship operating around Taiwan until 6 AM local time on Saturday.

According to the MND, nine of the 14 aircraft sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). The median line serves as an unofficial boundary in the Taiwan Strait.

In response to China's military activity, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal missile systems to monitor the situation. "We have monitored the situation and responded," Taiwan's MND posted on X (formerly Twitter).

BROADER CONTEXT

The incident occurs amid heightened tensions between Taiwan and China. On June 28, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te highlighted China's use of "influence warfare and military intimidation" aimed at annexing Taiwan as part of Beijing's "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" policy and expanding hegemony in the western Pacific.

President Lai warned that this threat would persist regardless of changes in Taiwan's government leadership, according to the Taipei Times.

Taiwan has also begun 10-day military exercises amid the ongoing tensions with China, which views the self-governed island as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve unification.

ROUTINE MONITORING

Such military activities by China around Taiwan have become increasingly common, with Taiwan's military regularly reporting Chinese aircraft and naval vessel movements in the area. The ADIZ is a broader area than Taiwan's territorial airspace, where the island monitors and identifies aircraft for security purposes.

12/07/2025

An Australian woman is intensifying her campaign to free her Uyghur husband from a Chinese prison after the UN ruled his detention unlawful.

Mulizati Tayier was arrested in China in 2020, just two days before he was scheduled to move to Melbourne with his wife, Mehray Mezensof. He received a 25-year sentence for terrorism and separatism following what his legal team calls an unfair trial.

The United Nations has now published an opinion finding "no legal basis" for Tayier's detention, ruling that his rights to a fair trial were violated. The UN determined his imprisonment was based solely on his Uyghur ethnicity, Muslim faith, and previous residence in Turkey, without credible evidence of criminal activity.

Mezensof, an Australian aged care nurse, maintains her husband's innocence. "There is not a shred of evidence against him which ties him to any kind of criminal or terrorist activity," she said, calling for his immediate release.

Tayier, a former tour guide and culinary graduate, was previously detained three times between 2017 and 2020 without warrants, reportedly due to his travel history to Turkey. Uyghurs are banned from travelling to 26 "sensitive countries," most with Muslim-majority populations.

During his first 2017 detention, Tayier was held without charge for 10 months and transferred to "re-education" camps where he allegedly faced torture. His legal team argues the case represents a broader pattern of discrimination against Uyghurs.

The couple met online through their mothers and married in 2016, planning to start a new life together in Australia, where Tayier hoped to open a Uyghur-style kebab shop.

The Australian government has expressed "grave concerns" about human rights violations in East Turkistan (Xinjiang) and continues to raise these issues with China at the highest levels.

12/07/2025

Human rights advocates are urging federal authorities to investigate Harvard University's partnerships with Chinese entities linked to genocide against Uyghurs.

The calls follow a May letter from the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party to Harvard President Alan Garber, citing concerns about "national security" and "genocide." The committee alleges Harvard has been training members of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) since 2019.

The XPCC is a Chinese Communist Party paramilitary organisation identified as the "primary" facilitator of ethnic genocide against Uyghurs in East Turkistan (Xinjiang). According to the U.S. Department of Labour, the CCP has subjected Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities to "genocide, state-imposed forced labour, and crimes against humanity" since 2016.

PARTNERSHIP DETAILS

Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health launched its "Harvard China Health Partnership" in 2020, partnering with Chinese health authorities to host medical financing courses. XPCC members have regularly attended these courses through 2024, despite the organisation being on the U.S. Treasury's sanctions list since July 2020.

Lawmakers also raised concerns about Harvard's collaboration with Chinese researchers on seven medical research articles between 2022-2024 involving "illicit organ harvesting targeting ethnic and religious minorities" - a documented abuse against Uyghurs.

EXPERT CRITICISM

Louisa Greve from the Uyghur Human Rights Project said continuing cooperation with entities carrying out severe abuses gives "tacit approval." Steven Mosher of the Population Research Institute argued that university administrators prioritise "the flow of students and contributions from China" over exposing human rights violations.

SECURITY CONCERNS

The House committee alleges Harvard researchers used Defence Department funding to partner with Chinese academics on research with potential military applications, and collaborated on Iranian-funded projects.

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