TRP: With New NGO, Malaysians Show Support For Uyghurs

UMRO aims to create awareness about the Uyghur cause and raise charity funds.

Malaysians and Uyghurs have set up a new non-governmental organisation (NGO) to help create awareness about alleged human rights violations in China.

The Uyghur – Malaysia Relations Organisation (UMRO) is set up by the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM) and the International Union of East Turkistan Organizations (IUETO).

There have been reports of human rights abuses and cultural suppression against the Uyghur population in Xinjiang (East Turkestan), a region in northwest China.

ABIM president Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz said the Chinese government had been accused of detaining up to a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.

They are allegedly detained in “re-education” camps and subjected to political indoctrination, forced labour, and torture.

Muhammad Faisal expressed regret that the Chinese government has defended these actions as necessary for combating terrorism and extremism in the region.

IUETO president Hidayet Oguzhan said funds from the UMRO initiative would go towards Uyghur-based initiatives to create awareness among the Malaysian public on the Uyghur issue.

UMRO aims to create an understanding of the Uyghurs in China who face daily unimaginable challenges and human rights violations.

Oguzhan reminded Malaysians the situation in Xinjiang had sparked international condemnation.

It also led to calls for investigations and action to hold the Chinese government accountable for its treatment of Uyghurs.

At the same time, he noted that the Malaysian government had not taken an official stance on the situation of the Uyghurs in China.

However, there has been an outpouring of moral support by individuals and civil society organizations in Malaysia, such as ABIM, expressing concern about the human rights violations against the Uyghurs in China.

Malaysia has also provided asylum to Uyghur refugees who have fled China, citing persecution.

Oguzhan added that Malaysia has a history of championing human rights and has often spoken out against human rights abuses worldwide.

Also present at the soft launch were local politicians, including PKR assemblyman for Meru, Mohd Fakhrulrazi Mohd Mokhtar.

Mohd Fakhrulrazi said the Malaysian parliament should debate a motion on Uyghur abuses in Xinjiang.

He said it is only right for Malaysia to voice the alleged restrictions on freedom, the mass internments, the programmes of mass sterilisation, and the enforced labour of the Uyghurs.

It’s important to note that the situation of Uyghurs in Malaysia is not uniform.

There may be different reasons why Uyghurs have chosen to move to Malaysia or how they live there.

Sourc: therakyatpost