The event coincided with a week of deep significance for the Uyghur community, aligning with Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day on December 9, International Human Rights Day on December 10, and the 40th anniversary of the Uyghur Student Protests in Urumchi on December 12, 1985.
The main program opened with remarks from Dr. Rishat Abbas, President of the Uyghur Academy, and powerful speeches from prominent leaders and advocates, including Representative John Moolenaar, Chair of the Select Committee on China; Representative Chris Smith, Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) and Co-Chair of the Congressional Uyghur Caucus; Representative Tom Suozzi, Co-Chair of the Congressional Uyghur Caucus; Representative Joe Wilson, Chair of the U.S. Helsinki Commission; Dr. Eric Paterson, President and CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation; Kimber Shearer, Executive Vice President of the International Republican Institute; Luke de Pulford, Executive Director of Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, and Tencho Gyatso, President of the International Campaign for Tibet.
Opening Remarks of Dr. Rishat Abbas, President of the Uyghur Academy
Salammulaykum, Good Afternoon
On behalf of our collaborating partners, I am honored to welcome you all to this important conference on Uyghur Genocide Resistance.
As victims of Communist, our unprecedented partnership of 20 organizations worldwide brings inspiration, and we are grateful for their support. It affirms that the suffering of the Uyghur people under the Chinese Communist Party is a matter of global concern.
For more than seven years, the CCP has carried out genocide, crimes against humanity, and severe repression targeting the Uyghur people in our homeland. Confronting these ongoing abuses requires strong, coordinated action.
We are grateful for the U.S. Congress’s leadership in passing the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act of 2021. We also urge Congress to advance the Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act and the Uyghur Policy Act as critical next steps for accountability and protection
We want to thank Secretary Rubio for his February 2025 statement condemning the forced deportation of Uyghurs from Thailand to China, and for reaffirming that the CCP is committing genocide and crimes against humanity targeting the Uyghur people. Secretary Rubio’s leadership gives hope to millions.
This conference will examine the Uyghur genocide, forced labor, religious persecution, and transnational repression by the CCP, and the resilience of the Uyghur identity, along with the broader implications for global security.
We are grateful to all the lawmakers, officials, experts, and community leaders. Your leadership is vital as we work for justice, accountability, the protection of American values, and the defense of fundamental freedoms
Thank you for standing with the Uyghur people.
The Congressional Select Committee on The CCP
Chairman Moolenaar: No One “Can Say They Did Not Know” About Uyghur Genocide
Chairman Moolenaar’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
Opening Speach of the John Moolenaar, Chairman of The Congressional Select Committee on The CCP
Good afternoon everyone,
Thank you to the Abbases for the invitation to be here today, for continuing to fight for their sister. I know that as advocates for Uyghurs you yourselves are sometimes targeted for persecution even as you live outside of China. The hardships and pain you have endured because of what is happening to your loved ones is unimaginable and you will forever have my respect and admiration for your courage to fight the CCP.
Communism is a broken and bankrupt ideology. It does not work economically, it does not make a country more secure, and it does not work spiritually. Everywhere it has been tried, it targets people of faith. It is incompatible with the basic human desire for faith in a higher power than what is available here on Earth. In communism, everything belongs to the state and there is nothing greater than the state, but the state is run by people who make mistakes and who sin, and so we know there is an even a higher power than the state. That is why the CCP disdains people of faith. It wants everyone to believe that it is perfect, that it does not make mistakes. It censors its critics, jails dissidents and commits genocide against your people because of your beliefs.
The party believes in the “Sinicization of religion,” which is a full-scale assault against courageous people in China who choose to believe in a power higher than communism. The ongoing Uyghur genocide’s internment camps, the destruction of mosques, and the forced sterilization of women are all horrors we must never look away from.
It is our job to continue to share their stories and highlight their fight for basic human rights. One of the historical figures who I hold in the highest regard is William Wilberforce. He was in the British parliament in the 18th and 19th centuries and he fought for decades to abolish slavery there. He faced long odds, but he knew he was on the right side of justice and he never gave up. He once said to his critics, “You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.”
On the Select Committee, my colleagues and I are shedding light on the atrocities of the CCP. Every day we tell lawmakers, other government officials, companies, diplomats, and the public about China’s human rights abuses and how it uses forced labor in the supply chains of so many products. Enforcement of the UFLPA is critical to stopping the abhorrent forced labor happening in Xinjiang and other parts of China. Companies may want to pretend their supply chains are clean, but every time they partner with a company linked to the ongoing genocide, they betray their customers, their morals, and the founding values of unalienable rights from our Creator that has guided this land of liberty for 250 years. They may all look away, but they will never be able to say they did not know.
Thank you for being here, thank for all you do, and thank for never looking away in this fight against the CCP.
The conference continued with four panel discussions addressing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) genocide and state-imposed forced labor, religious persecution, and transnational repression, Uyghur identity and cultural resilience, and the 1985 Uyghur student movement in Ürümchi. Panelists shared personal experiences, presented research findings, and offered policy recommendations to address these critical issues.
The evening program showcased traditional art, music, and cultural heritage, offering a powerful reminder of what is at stake as the Chinese government works to erase Uyghur identity and culture.
“The ongoing Uyghur genocide has an impact on us all across the globe, from AI surveillance, silenced voices, to tainted supply chains. This conference was essential to raise awareness, reinforce accountability, and defend human dignity. The enduring Uyghur spirit, and our ongoing advocacy despite transnational repression, underscore the urgent need to confront these atrocities and protect freedom everywhere…while we continue resisting the CCP’s ongoing crimes, it is essential that all Uyghur organizations worldwide work together in true collaboration, unity, and solidarity,” noted CFU Executive Director Rushan Abbas.
The conference highlighted the ongoing human rights crisis facing the Uyghur community and the importance of sustained international advocacy. Through panel discussions, personal testimonies, and the cultural exhibition, the gathering reinforced the need for concrete policy measures, accountability, and continued global attention to ensure that the voices and rights of Uyghurs are recognized and protected.
During the opening session, U.S. Representative Chris Smith strongly condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s grave human rights violations, including internment camps, the destruction of mosques, and forced sterilization practices. Stating that communism is a failed ideology incompatible with human dignity, Smith emphasized that halting the operations of companies involved in forced labor and slave labor systems is a moral obligation.
U.S. Representative Joe Wilson, referring to his father’s struggle during World War II, expressed his belief that just as Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher pushed back communism, the Uyghur people would one day defeat Chinese communism as well.
In the continuation of the opening session, Kimberly Shearer of the International Republican Institute praised the diplomatic achievements of the Uyghur diaspora and stated that material and moral support would continue. Dr. Eric Patterson of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation emphasized that oppression has always been defeated throughout history and that truth ultimately prevails. Luke de Pulford of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China stated that leaked materials such as the Xinjiang Papers provide sufficient evidence to hold China accountable internationally and that democratic countries must urgently act together. Tencho Gyatso of the International Campaign for Tibet noted that the Tibetan people stand shoulder to shoulder with Uyghurs and that a joint struggle for freedom is essential. Dr. Scott Worden of Yale University warned that China is using artificial intelligence and facial recognition technologies as tools of genocide and called for an immediate ban on Western companies investing in Chinese technology firms.
The first session focused on economic and legal measures and was chaired by Dr. Alim Seitoff. Scott Flipse of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China Office stated that academic and scientific reports are among the most effective tools for dismantling China’s genocide-linked supply chains. Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of the Uyghur Movement, stressed the need for a strong diplomatic counteroffensive, particularly in the Islamic world, against China’s propaganda claims that “Uyghurs are happy.” William Nee of the National Endowment for Democracy warned that China’s export of its police-state model to authoritarian regimes poses a serious global threat. Omer Kanat, President of the Uyghur Human Rights Project, stated that published reports are increasingly cornering perpetrators through legal means. Rizwana Ilham of the Swiss Uyghur Association shared concrete achievements in Switzerland and European Union countries aimed at stopping the import of goods produced through forced labor.
The second session addressed religious repression and transnational intimidation policies and was moderated by Adam King. Dolkun Isa, President of the World Uyghur Congress, emphasized that firsthand testimonies are key to exposing China’s crimes and that African and Muslim countries in particular must be informed of these realities. Abdulhakim Idris, President of the Uyghur Research Center, highlighted the importance of strengthening relations with Turkey and the Islamic world to counter China’s disinformation activities within the diaspora. Ryan Fiorese of the International Campaign for Tibet criticized China’s attempts to infiltrate religious leadership processes and institutions. Sarah Makin stated that China’s repression of Christian communities has become a global religious threat extending as far as the Vatican. Dean Baxendale exposed China’s cultural piracy through the production of counterfeit editions of books written by Uyghur activists.
The third session focused on the preservation of Uyghur identity and culture and was chaired by Professor Rebecca Clothey. Dr. Nurnisa Kurban of the Uyghur Academy spoke about the importance of five volumes of Uyghur mother-tongue textbooks prepared by more than one hundred intellectuals for cultural continuity. Kevser Kamil discussed the challenges of instilling identity among children growing up in the diaspora and shared possible solutions. Misran Dolan of the Uyghur American Association presented community organizing and migrant support efforts carried out in the U.S. state of Virginia. Abdulhamit Karahan of the Uyghur Academy Foundation emphasized the role of academic work conducted since 2009 in establishing February 21 International Mother Language Day and May 5 Doppa Festival as significant cultural observances within the diaspora. Irade Kashgari of the Mihriban Ana Uyghur School stressed that educational institutions and national consciousness are indispensable for the survival of a nation.
In the fourth and final session, chaired by Memet Tohti, the 40th anniversary of the Urumqi student movement of December 12, 1985, was discussed. Dolkun Isa stated that this movement was the first democratic mass uprising of Uyghur youth in their homeland and that, as someone who personally witnessed it, he considers it a cornerstone of the modern independence struggle. Rushan Abbas emphasized that the 1985 protests preceded the Tiananmen Square and Eastern European democratic movements and profoundly shook China’s colonial policies. Turdi Ghoja, Chief Advisor to the Uyghur Movement, noted that the Urumqi student movement laid inspirational groundwork for the 1989 Tiananmen student protests and marked a historic turning point. Ilshat Hasan Kokbore, Director of China Studies at the Uyghur Academy, stated that even 40 years later they continue to fight for the same goals and that the national enthusiasm sparked by hearing about the protests through Voice of America remains alive today. Dr. Faizullah Zaidun of the Uyghur Academy explained that after the 1985 movement, many students like himself combined their academic careers with national awakening to reach their current positions.
At the conclusion of the program, Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of the Uyghur Movement and Executive Chair of the World Uyghur Congress, delivered the closing remarks. She thanked American politicians, researchers, and civil society representatives who participated in the symposium and consistently supported the Uyghur people, as well as the 7 American and Tibetan organizations and 13 Uyghur organizations that contributed to the successful organization of the event. Abbas emphasized that this movement in the United States would play a concrete and positive role in stopping China’s genocide against Uyghurs, ending forced labor practices, securing the release of imprisoned Uyghur intellectuals, shutting down internment camps, halting transnational repression against Uyghurs, and preserving the Uyghur language and identity. Stressing that the Uyghur people must never lose hope, she stated that the struggle against China would continue together with democratic countries, for justice and freedom, even if only a single Uyghur remains.
The program concluded with participants visiting a rich art exhibition by Uyghur artists and enjoying traditional Uyghur cuisine.
