Open Letter to Turghunjan Alawudun, President of the World Uyghur Congress
Important Questions to Be Answered for the Nation at the 3rd East Turkestan National Conference
“The eyes of the people are fifty” – Uyghur proverb
On April 18, 2025, the World Uyghur Congress announced through its online television channel that the “3rd East Turkestan National Conference” will be held in Munich, Germany, from May 23 to May 25, 2025. I wish success for this conference, which is to be held under the leadership of Turghunjan Alawudun, the newly elected president of the World Uyghur Congress. As a political activist actively working against the Chinese government’s occupation, aggression, and genocide in East Turkestan, I hope that Turghunjan Alawudun, as the president of the World Uyghur Congress, will sincerely address some questions related to the fate of our nation. Although I sent this letter to Turghunjan Alawudun via WhatsApp on March 21, 2025, to discuss these matters, unfortunately, I received no response. Therefore, on the eve of the 3rd East Turkestan National Conference, I am publicly announcing this letter online, hoping for a response after the conference.
1. Regarding the Report on East Turkestan’s Occupied LandOn February 9, 2024, the World Uyghur Congress announced on its Facebook page that a report confirming East Turkestan as land occupied by the Chinese government had been completed and would be officially presented by Michael van Walt at the 20th anniversary celebration of the World Uyghur Congress on May 3, 2024. Unfortunately, this report was not released. When nearly a year had passed since the announcement, I contacted Turghunjan Alawudun again to request a clear response for the nation regarding this matter. You stated that the report would be announced once the program was finalized. When will this report be completed? When will it be announced? Will it be announced at the 3rd East Turkestan National Conference? As the president of the World Uyghur Congress, you have a responsibility to provide clear answers to our people on issues related to the nation’s fate. When exactly will this report be announced?
2. Regarding Zumretay Arkin’s Statement at the European ParliamentIn March 2025, during a meeting at the European Union, Zumretay Arkin, Vice President of the World Uyghur Congress, engaged in a casual conversation with a parliament member. When asked whether Uyghurs would want to be part of a democratic Chinese state in the future, Zumretay responded, “Of course, they would.” This statement sparked strong backlash among the Uyghur diaspora. Following this backlash, the video was removed from the World Uyghur Congress’s X, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. Who gave Zumretay the authority to independently respond to questions regarding the fate of the Uyghur nation? Was it the Congress or Zumretay herself? At the 7th World Uyghur Congress, you declared that our goal is the independence of East Turkestan. How should we interpret Zumretay’s response? Does it not contradict the statement made at the 7th Congress that our goal is East Turkestan’s independence?
3. Regarding the People’s Tribunal’s Ruling on Xi Jinping’s CrimesWhy does the World Uyghur Congress actively promote the decision of the Uyghur Tribunal in England everywhere, but not the ruling of the People’s Tribunal in the Netherlands? In July 2024, the People’s Tribunal in the Netherlands held a trial against Xi Jinping under the Rome Statute, charging him with 11 crimes, including genocide and crimes against humanity in East Turkestan, and issued an international arrest warrant for him. Why does the World Uyghur Congress not use this ruling in its campaigns against the Chinese government?
4. Regarding the World Uyghur Congress, Dolkun Isa, and the Coalition to End Forced Uyghur LaborIn May 2024, after an article about Dolkun Isa and Nury Turkel’s sexual misconduct was published in the American magazine Notus, the Coalition to End Forced Uyghur Labor in the United States demanded that Dolkun Isa resign from the presidency of the World Uyghur Congress and that an independent investigation team be formed to investigate him. The Coalition also expelled the World Uyghur Congress from its membership. Subsequently, Dolkun Isa resigned from the presidency of the World Uyghur Congress. The Congress announced that it would work with an independent body to investigate Dolkun Isa. Has the World Uyghur Congress been reinstated as a member of the Coalition to End Forced Uyghur Labor? Which independent body conducted the investigation into Dolkun Isa? When will the results of the investigation be announced?
5. Regarding the Removal of Social Media RestrictionsAs an active political activist opposing the Chinese government’s occupation, aggression, and genocide in East Turkestan, I have consistently supported the activities of the World Uyghur Congress through my actions. At times, particularly since 2022, I have consistently criticized Dolkun Isa’s bureaucracy and irresponsibility in his work, which led to me being blacklisted on the World Uyghur Congress’s X account. As an Uyghur, I have the right to monitor the Congress’s campaigns against the Chinese government on X, offer suggestions, and provide support. Despite repeatedly requesting to be removed from the blacklist, my requests were ignored. Therefore, I demand that you remove me from the blacklist.
6. Regarding the Relationship Between the Congress and People’s RepresentativesOn November 8, 2018, I participated as a people’s representative at the 1st East Turkestan National Conference in Munich, where I delivered a speech upon invitation. Later, in December 2019, I attended a World Uyghur Congress meeting in Belgium and a journalism training course for Uyghur youth, also upon invitation, and was awarded by the Congress. On September 21, 2021, you invited me to the 7th World Uyghur Congress meeting in the Czech Republic. I expressed my intention to participate as a people’s representative and you agreed. I requested 10-15 minutes to speak at the meeting to convey the people’s demands and expectations, aiming to act as a bridge between the Congress and the people, address the Congress’s issues courageously, and strengthen the people’s trust in the Congress. Unfortunately, after receiving no response, I withdrew from attending the 7th Congress to express my dissatisfaction. Subsequently, without any explanation, was I removed from my role as a people’s representative? You did not invite me to any further meetings. On which article of the Congress’s charter is the decision to remove a recognized people’s representative without explanation based? I request an explanation on this matter.
Due to my consistent criticism of Dolkun Isa, I was deprived of the opportunity to attend World Uyghur Congress meetings and convey the people’s demands. Each time the Congress holds a meeting, I have consistently sent open letters or suggestions, raising critical questions and hoping for sincere responses from the Congress leadership. Unfortunately, I have not received any responses so far. Nevertheless, I continue to write open letters without losing hope. My goals in doing so are:
1. To leave valuable historical material for future researchers and generations studying the East Turkestan independence struggle.
2. To consistently monitor the activities of a prominent organization like the World Uyghur Congress, known for its international advocacy, criticize its hypocrisy, dishonesty, negligence, and bureaucracy, urge its leadership to take responsibility for the nation, promote adherence to common principles for the nation’s collective benefit, and guide the Congress toward transparency to ensure the healthy development of the East Turkestan independence struggle.
3. By publishing open letters online and on social media, to draw the attention of the Uyghur diaspora and the international community to the Uyghur issue and the Congress’s activities, encourage international organizations, politicians, human rights groups, and researchers monitoring Uyghur political activities to pay closer attention to the Congress, inspire its leadership to be more transparent and responsive to the people’s questions, eliminate bureaucracy, and build a truly democratic Congress system that represents diverse perspectives and serves the fundamental interests of East Turkestan.
Dear Mr. Turghunjan Alawudun, in your statement on the World Uyghur Congress’s online television channel regarding the 3rd East Turkestan National Conference in Munich, you said, “Every Uyghur has the right to offer suggestions and ask questions.” As a political activist opposing the Chinese government’s occupation, aggression, and genocide in East Turkestan, I request that you sincerely address the questions raised above and invite me to the “Uyghur Teahouse Discussions” program for a conversation soon.
With respect,Abdurehim Gheni
First sent to Turghunjan Alawudun, President of the World Uyghur Congress: March 21, 2025Second sent and published online: May 23, 2025
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