Please join the 2022 UAA Election coming this Saturday as we commemorate the accomplishments of the current board while casting our ballots in for the next generation.

The election will be held at Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks, 11787 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22033.

UAA Election Committee Formation Meeting and UAA Iftar

Per Uyghur American Association's (UAA) Bylaw, the UAA election should be held at the end of May 2022, which is less than two months away. The current UAA board is committed to ensure that a democratic and fair UAA election is held in a timely manner. All Uyghur community members are invited to the UAA election committee formation meeting on Saturday 4/16/2022 at 6:00 pm at the Uyghur Center. UAA will also host an Iftar dinner after the meeting. We hope you will take the time to be a part of this very important process to exercise your democratic right in our community. If you are interested in being in the UAA election committee to organize and monitor the UAA election process, please come to the event and nominate yourself. Five people who get the most votes on that day will be selected to become a part of the election committee.

Uyghur American Association

Uyghur Center's Address: 11200 Waples Mill Road. Fairfax VA 22030

Uyghur American Association and other well-known prominent Jewish Human Rights organization held an online event on Monday February 14. About 300 people joined the call and listened to our President, Kuzzat Altay’s and camp survivor, Tursinay Ziyavudun’s heartbreaking personal stories. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this successful event.

Uyghur Americans joined forces with George Washington University students to protest the CCP’s influence at GWU and demand #DivestGWfromTheUyghurGenocide

On February 15, 2022.

Besides the student activists, UAA and UHRP members informed many students and reporters about the current phase of the Uyghur Genocide. Universities need to be on the frontlines of speaking up against the Human rights atrocities that take place anywhere in the world such as East Turkistan, Tibet and Hong Kong. GWU must divest from the Uyghur genocide & refuse CCP censorship! President of GWU agreed to meet with the students who has organized these successful demonstration. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this protest.

Today, February 3, 2022, UAA members joined the #Nobeijing2022 rally organized by Victims of Communism in front of the US Capitol in Washington DC. Congressman Chris Smith, Ambassador Andrew Bremberg, and many other Human Rights organizations leaders and activists stood together in solidarity and told the world that the CCP cannot sport-wash its crimes.

Ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics, join us at the U.S. Capitol to denounce the atrocities and grave human rights abuses being committed by the Chinese government.

Learn more: bit.ly/3KW053A

Senator Rick Scott organized a press meeting, to promote the Uyghur, Tibetan, and Hong Konger stand against the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, that are tainted by the Chinese Communist Party’s crimes against humanity and genocide.

We gathered at the Russel Senate building in Washington DC today to stand against an Olympics tainted by the Chinese Communist Party’s crimes against humanity and genocide. The Chinese government seeks to sportswash its human rights record with the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics but NOT ON OUR WATCH. As we have done in the years leading up to this Olympics, we will continue to ask how the world can continue to blindly embolden the Chinese government and continue to play and do business as usual when that government commits crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghurs and Tibetans… when that government continues to destroy the spark of democracy in Hong Kong and threatens to do the same in Taiwan?

We would like to thank Senator Rick Scott and his team for organizing this press briefing and condemning Communist China’s genocide of Uyghur & crimes in Hong Kong & Tibet. We will never stop fighting for freedom & democracy!

The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is set to commence on February 4. Countries including the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, and Australia have announced a diplomatic boycott of the games. However, this is not enough.

We need NBC to drop its broadcasting deal and not cover the genocidal Games.

NBC as a reputable broadcasting network should not become a propaganda platform that helps legitimize the CCP regime and "sport-wash" China's atrocities committed in Tibet, East Turkestan, Hong Kong and elsewhere.

Join us Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hongkongers and allies on January 4th in Washington DC in front of NBC's office to demand it to DROP THE SPONSORSHIP!

Today on December 16, 2021, Uyghur American community members demonstrated in front of the Moroccan Embassy in Washington DC, demanding the Moroccan government to release Idris Hasan as soon as possible and not deport him to China. We also delivered a formal letter to the Moroccan DC Embassy explaining the danger Idris Hassan would face if he is deported to China.

“We must always take sides,” Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel said while accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere.”

Today, on the International Human Rights day, we stood together against the dictator CCP again!

Special thanks to Joey Siu for this meaningful event. Photo credit for Erika Berg.

Free Uyghurs!

Free Tibet!

Free Hong Kong!

Uyghur American community members gathered for a literature event to commemorate the life of prominent Uyghur poet Muhammedjan Rashidin today on December 4, 2021. Uyghur writers and intellectuals from Turkey, Australia and Sweden also joined us virtually. We would like to thank all the contributors who made this such a meaningful and successful event.

Today on December 3rd. 2021, UAA members and Uyghur & Kazakh concentration camp survivors hold demo in front of the US Canon House building urging House members to pass the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act! Uyghurs would like to thank Rep. McGovern for coming out and supporting our cause. Rep. McGovern updated us with the current status of the Uyghur Forced Labor Bill.

On November 14, 2021 wUyghurs, Tibetans, HongKongers and allies united to urge President Biden to speak up against Dictator Xi’s genocide against Uyghurs and human rights abuses at Lafayette Square outside the White House, ahead of President Biden’s virtual summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the protest and 50+ hour nonstop vigil. We will continue to be the voice for the silenced! We will continue our fights until all of us are free!

On November 12, 2021, the Uyghur American Association organized an East Turkistan Republic Day Commemoration Event at the Uyghur Center.

UAA would like to thank all speakers and our camp survivors for their powerful speeches. We would also like to express our gratitude to all who contributed and joined us in making this a very meaningful event.

The Uyghur American Association and the allies, Student for a Free Tibet and DC4 HongKong organized the “End Uyghur Forced Labor” rally in front of the US Capitol in Washington DC. NBA star Enes Kanter joined the rally as the key speaker and urged the US Congress to pass the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

UAA would like to thank Senator Rubio & Representative Suozzi’s remarks and Coalition to End Uyghur Forced Labor spokesperson, Jewher Ilham’s powerful speech. Many thanks to Lobsang Tseten from SFT and activist Joey Siu from Hong Kong that inspired us with their speeches and support. Lastly, we’d like to thank our community members and human rights supporters to make this event successful. We will continue to advocate for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act( S. 65 & H.R. 1155)

The UAA and UHRP organized a rally themed “Stop the Uyghur Genocide” at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D. C. on Oct 1st, 2021. Hundreds of Uyghur American community members stood together to protest the CCP’s ongoing Genocide in East Turkistan and to demand the international community to take tangible actions to end the Genocide. Congress members Tom Suozzi, Young Kim, Vicky Hartzler, Ambassador Andrew Bremberg, Kelly Currie (a former Ambassador at large for Global Women’s Issues), Commissioner Nury Turkel and influential faith leaders gave inspiring speeches at the rally in strong support for this cause. In addition, Rabiye Kadeer, Urkesh Devlet, camp survivors Mihrigul Tursun, Zumret Dawut, Tursunay Ziyawudun and Gulzira Avelkhan called every Uyghurs into taking more action to save Uyghurs in the concentration camps. UHRP director Omer Qanat and UAA president Kuzzat Altay gave the closing remarks. There were interfaith prayers by Imam, rabbi and pastor for the safety of Uyghurs, Kazakhs and others who are suffering in Chinese concentration camps. UAA would like to thank everyone who contributed and joined the rally to make this event a success.

Over 400 members of Uyghur community from all over the country attended and shared a beautiful afternoon together, on September 10th, 2021. The UAA picnic was organized in support of Uyghur American Cup and to welcome Uyghurs from other states. Uyghur children enjoyed fun games and activities together. Both the picnic and the soccer game were a huge success. We would like thank everyone who contributed to these events.

On International Olympic Day, Uyghur Americans joined the Global Day of Action to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in front of the White House in Washington DC.

”The free world should not ignore China’s genocide against Uyghurs and should refuse to be complicit in China’s crimes against humanity. Genocide is totally incompatible with the spirit of Olympics. It should be relocated away from Beijing.”

Today, on July 5th, the 12th anniversary of the Urumchi massacre, our community members held a United July 5th protest in Washington DC. The United Uyghur Youth group started July 5th protest at the Washington Monument early in the morning, then the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement members welcomed UAA members to the demonstration in front of the White House. Lastly, everyone marched from the White House to the US State Department. Today, we stood together, united against the evil Chinese Government and demanded they stop the Genocide and close the concentration and labor camps immediately!

Join the Global Day of Action in DC at Lafayette Square, 11AM EDT!

Show your support for the boycott of the Beijing 2022 Olympics.

More info on the Global Day of Action: https://nobeijing2022.org/

Uyghur American Association (UAA) board members joined “Solidarity Against AAPI Hate Rally” at the National Mall, Washington DC on May 31st, 2021. Uyghurs have been the victim of State-Sponsored racism of CCP and facing Genocide in China. With first hand experience, Uyghur American Association condemns any form of bigotry and stands with all victims of racism.

The Uyghur American Association joined Milk Tea Alliance’s March and Rally for Freedom in Washington DC on April 24, 2021

Our alliance shows that we are united against CCP’s oppression and carry mutual support to each other’s various movements for democracy. We will stand together and fight against CCP’s injustice until there is a freedom for all of us.

Today on March 17, 2021, the day before Secretary of State Blinken’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Uyghur, Tibetan and Hong Konger community members and human rights groups got together to demand the OIC to move 2022 Winter Olympic out of China. We clearly stated that China should not be allowed to hold the Olympics 2022 until they close the concentration camps and labor camps in East Turkistan and until there is a full freedom for all of us.

We also asked the international companies to stop sponsoring the Winter Olympic 2022 if it is held in China due to its Genocidal polices.

To show solidarity with the people of #Tibet, on the 62nd anniversary of #TibetanUprisingDay, Uyghur American Association joined the protest demonstration with Tibetan Americans & Tibetan supporters in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC.

We told our Tibetan brothers and sisters that we, Uyghurs, are with them on this fight against brutal Chinese Communist Party. China occupied East Turkistan in 1949, Tibet was occupied year after. With the decades long oppression, the CCP assimilated and eliminated many Nations within the borders that it controls. However, they have not been able to assimilate and eliminate Uyghurs, Tibetans, Mongolians. We are brave, cultured and independent-minded people with thousands of years of proud history. We have strong unshakable religious beliefs. These are our shields against fascist and racist Chinese communists. Since the Chinese occupation, we have never stopped our resistance against cruel and unjust rule, never stopped demanding for our freedom. The March 10 Tibetans uprising is an inspiration to all of us.

In solidarity with our Uyghur brothers and sisters’ “Where is my family” themed protests in Turkey, the Uyghur American Association held a peaceful demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC today on February 26, 2022. Many Uyghur American community members joined the protest to demand Chinese government to release information on the whereabouts of their family members and friends in their homeland.

China’s concentration camp survivors Tursunay Ziyawudun, Zumrat Dawut and Mihrigul Tursun joining the protest as well. UAA would like to thank everyone who came in support of today’s important event.

On December 10th, the Uyghur American Association (UAA) joined organizations and individuals around the world in commemoration of Human Rights Day. As part of global efforts to raise awareness of the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan, UAA, UHRP and the Uyghur American community convened a candlelight vigil on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.

December 10th was proclaimed Human Rights Day because it is the day, in 1948, that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Enshrined in the Declaration is a pledge from the international community that regardless of nationality, race, religion, or sex, each and every person’s fundamental human rights are guaranteed, and will be protected. The Declaration was adopted following the Holocaust, which claimed the lives of 6 million innocent Jews and millions more.

Seven decades later, the world is witnessing another genocide unfold. The Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing genocide against the Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples is the largest, in scale and brutality, since the Holocaust. Yet, the very body that promised Never Again, the very body that declared its unflinching commitment to holding human life and dignity as the highest value, is paralyzed when it comes to holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable for their unspeakable crimes. The inaction of the United Nations, and the inaction of the powerful countries that comprise it, is the greatest injustice of our time.

Perhaps it is futile to wait until the United Nations chooses to take swift, decisive action to end the Uyghur genocide. After all, the Chinese Communist Party has successfully hijacked this sacred institution through the systematic strong-arming of member states. However, the inefficacy of the United Nations need not deter countries from banding together to live up to that hallowed mandate set forth in 1948.

In commemoration of Human Rights Day, we beseech citizens to call on their governments to pass legislation that holds the Chinese Communist Party accountable for the Uyghur genocide. We call on industry leaders to stop contributing to Uyghur forced labor by cutting ties with suppliers in East Turkistan. We call on consumers to stop purchasing products from companies that remain complicit in Uyghur forced labor.

In commemoration of #EastTurkistanRepublicDay, we hosted a book launch/discussion with Dr. Nabijan Tursun on his new, 12-volume book "General History of the Uyghurs" [Uy: Uyghur Omumi Tarihi]. Volumes 7 and 8 are dedicated to the second #EastTurkistan Republic (1944-1949).

Dr. Nabijan Tursun's long, prolific career as a historian has culminated into this 12-volume history of the Uyghur people. Dr. Tursun has written a number of acclaimed articles and books, published in English, Uyghur, Russian, Turkish, and other languages. Dr. Tursun's works have appeared in "Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland" and "The #Uyghur community: diaspora, identity and geopolitics" among a number of edited volumes and scholarly publications.

In this discussion, Dr. Tursun was joined by fellow scholars and leaders who have dedicated their careers to the Uyghur people: Dr. Ablet Kamalov (@Turan University), Dr. James Millward (Georgetown University), and Dr. Sean Roberts (George Washington University). Opening remarks were given by Uyghur American Association President Kuzzat Altay.

https://youtu.be/uLdzmjJol2o