Serious allegations hit two Uyghur leaders. Abuse, if ascertained, should not be condoned and all should be handled responsibly—but the CCP should not be allowed to exploit the incident either.
by Marco Respinti and Massimo Introvigne
![Nury Turkel, left (credits), and Dolkun Isa, right (credits).](https://bitterwinter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BITTER-WINTER-43.jpg)
![Nury Turkel, left (credits), and Dolkun Isa, right (credits).](https://bitterwinter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BITTER-WINTER-43.jpg)
An earthquake is shaking the international community of human rights activists and the Uyghur world. Two of the most prominent leaders of the Uyghur diaspora, well-known for their dedication and effective advocacy, are accused of serious wrongdoings. An article described two allegations, one naming Nury Turkel, former Chair of the USCIRF and former Chairman of the Board of the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP), and one naming Dolkun Isa, President of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), involving inappropriate sexual behavior and/or harassment. This caused Isa to admit “serious errors of judgement, for which I apologize without reservation” on X (formerly Twitter) on May 12, WUC to assure that “we will urgently establish mechanisms for lodging complaints, grievances, and whistleblowing to ensure timely investigation, fact-finding, and resolution of issues” though a press release on May 13, and Turkel to resign from the UHRP Board of Directors on May 17.
The allegations, as it seems, have been circulating for a while to be finally brought to international attention by an article published in the Washington-based “Notus” on May 10, 2024, which, for a sum of reasons, appeared just after WUC celebrated its 20 years of accomplishments, on the eve of the election of its next President in October and while Turkel was completing his mandate as commissioner of the USCIRF. That article was then echoed, with a few more details and some mistakes, or typos, by “Firstpost,” a media outlet based in Mumbai, India.
“Bitter Winter,” which keeps cordial relationships with almost all the people involved and mentioned in the “Notus” article, takes this opportunity to reiterate a few points that remains at the core of its vocation and mission.
Facts, guilt, and innocence
All abuses on human beings, be they physical sexual, social, economic, or political, which result in curtailing their liberties and rights as well as their dignity grounded on their intangible human nature, should always be firmly stigmatized and blamed, denounced in all circumstances, prosecuted according to the law, and obviously avoided in the first place.
While there is of course no exception to this basic and fundamental principle, it is no mystery that in our society some abuses appear and are more regrettable than others and disturb our consciences more. Among these, there surely are the abuses against women, especially of a sexual nature.
The fact that some of the wrongdoings denounced by the “Notus” article concern the Uyghurs, and Uyghur women, or women connected to the Uyghur community, has an even more disturbing flavor. Women are especially targeted by the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against the Uyghurs in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The cultural genocide by which the Chinese regime tries to completely wipe out the Uyghurs uses in fact sexual harassment and violence as tools to vilify Uyghur women and prevent future generations to come to life or to be, one day, identifiable as Uyghur. The rights of Uyghur women should be defended everywhere, including when wrongdoings against them happen within the Uyghur community itself.
The seriousness of the case raised by the “Notus” article should not lead us to forget that all are innocent until proven guilty. There is no exception to this concept, just as friendship, sympathy, like-mindedness, or common cause can never become excuses to cover abuses. The institutions involved in this case announced thorough investigations and, if needed, at the end, additional public steps. In case of violations of the law, we also expect the police and public prosecutors to act.
An unexpected gift for the CCP’s propaganda
Yet one important element should be always kept in mind. “Firstpost” said it in the best way. “The Uyghurs’ loss will be China’s gain. The biggest beneficiary of this fiasco will indeed be the central government of China. Even though there has been no reaction from the Chinese so far, this situation has given the Chinese government ammo to continue their outbursts against the Uyghur diaspora leaders.”
![Uyghur diaspora protests in Berlin. Credits.](https://bitterwinter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BITTER-WINTER-1-36.jpg)
![Uyghur diaspora protests in Berlin. Credits.](https://bitterwinter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BITTER-WINTER-1-36.jpg)
In fact, “Firstpost” continues, “the Chinese would not hesitate to settle scores with the human rights and women activists, who had earlier accused the Chinese government of violating human and women rights in Xinjiang, and even hard-press these activists […]. And China will leave no stone unturned to use this opportunity to let the world community know the real face of top Uyghur leaders. This is an example of how an entire community (Uyghurs) will be blamed by China for the follies of a couple of their community members or leaders. The Chinese central government still has considerable sway over two-thirds of the total Uyghur population across the globe, besides applying combative measures against the rest through the mobilization of the international community.”
Indeed, the CCP is likely to take advantage of this distressing situation. It is in fact not difficult to foresee that, sooner or later, directly or indirectly, the shrewd and cunning nomenklatura of the CCP will use its propaganda machine to mix apples and oranges, trying to destroy the international Uyghur advocacy organizations once and for all. The CCP already falsely labels leaders of Uyghur organizations in the diaspora as terrorists: it would be quite simple for the Party and its fellow travelers to call all of them hypocrites, liars, and sexual predators.
The battle is not over
In this situation, what should people of good will who wish to defend the innocent Uyghurs from the subtle and pernicious assaults of the CCP do? They can only persevere and hold.
Persevere and hold in their commitment to the truth. Persevere and hold in denouncing the devious maneuvers of the CCP. Persevere and hold in denouncing all persecutions by the CCP, of Uyghurs and others. Persevere and hold in always distinguishing good from evil. Persevere and hold in underlining that, while good is always able to overcome evil through repentance and reparation, evil has never the power to cancel the good that has been done.
Also, we all need to persevere and hold in repeating that persons can be at the same time praised for their honorable deeds and reprimanded for their faults. Persevere and hold in considering events along the line of historical time, which cannot be reversed. Persevere and hold in showing that important achievements such as resolutions recognizing the Uyghur genocide and laws against importing the products of the slave labor in Xinjiang are not cancelled if some of those who worked to obtain them stand accused of serious wrongdoings.
The Uyghurs, who are still suffering because of the the evil deeds of the CCP, deserve it. They need our help especially in this time of troubles. The battle for their liberation is not over yet, and we should never give undeserved points of advantage to our and their adversaries.