World Uyghur Congress condemns China's campaign of threats, disinformation and smear tactics against staff, scholars

"In the last few weeks, the WUC, along with its leadership members and staff have been the target of an apparently coordinated campaign of disinformation and smear tactics, orchestrated by anonymous accounts, via individualised videos and posts," WUC said in a statement.

The WUC condemned the smear campaigns against its leadership and staff members as well as the ongoing threats made against the WUC.

"It is deeply troubling that this campaign includes attempts to intimidate and tarnish the personal reputations of WUC’s leadership and its female and male staff," WUC said in a statement.

The smear campaigns have targeted especially staff members and leadership, including WUC’s interim president, Dr. Erkin Ekrem, Vice President, Perhat Muhammed, and staff members, Erkin Zunun, Ekber Tursun, Iptihar Abduréshit, Zumretay Arkin, using their private lives to spread disinformation, harm their credibility and reputation within the community and beyond and put them at risk of attack.

A suspicious package was also sent to the private residence of a staff member, WUC claimed. 

The WUC members have also received repeated, suspicious, requests to send private information about Dolkun Isa in exchange for financial compensation.

Just this week, the WUC has also learned that several anonymous individuals, purporting to represent the WUC, have been sending threatening messages to scholars who have signed a joint letter against harassment.

This anonymous individual does not speak on behalf of the WUC.

The WUC firmly rejects any threats made against individuals, especially for  expressing their opinion and calls for a cautious response when anyone purports to speak on behalf of the WUC, outside official channels.

"These tactics are an indication of the lengths that some will go to, to silence the WUC and the Uyghur cause," WUC said.

These personal attacks are designed to intimidate Uyghur rights activists, undermine the WUC’s credibility, discourage the youth within the movement and ultimately weaken the global movement for Uyghur rights.

The WUC is a democratic and transparent organisation, and it strongly condemns any effort to instrumentalise these core principles in order to damage human rights activists’ credibility and the organisation, without just cause.

"The Chinese government has long sought to silence Uyghur human rights activists, and critics by fabricating lies and smear campaigns. These attacks can be dangerous and undermine an entire movement," WUC said.

The WUC said it will continue to monitor these cases and work to ensure a safe working environment for all and urges everyone to refrain from attacking or harassing its employees, members and concerned individuals. We will not be deterred from our work and commitment to the human rights of the Uyghur people.