Claims of Uighur forced labor are reasonable and constitute crimes against humanity, Keele University international law professor Tomoya Obokata said in a report to the UN. This is not only the fruit of his academic efforts, but the result of unwavering virtue in the face of difficulties and threats.
UN Special Rapporteur Alena Douhan played a role in China’s Uighur propaganda campaign and received US$200,000 from the Chinese for her efforts.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet also failed to stand up to Beijing’s pressure during her visit to Xinjiang. Even if China distorted her words when presenting her evaluation of the human rights situation, which was the basis of her report, she, as an admirer of China, did not dare to correct any mistakes in these crucial points.
China deceives, misleads and scares followers of the truth in various ways. Bachelet’s silence in the face of her distorted words and Douhan’s bribery are only some of the results of the long-standing deceitful methods used by China to gain power.
Having lived under the Chinese regime for decades, served in its government and knowing how its institutions work, we authors assume that Obokata must have experienced unwanted attention from Beijing for not implementing its “suggestions and recommendations.”
If this has not happened yet, China is likely to begin “caring” for him soon.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin (汪文斌) on Wednesday last week denied Obokata’s findings and accused him of abusing his power to “patently smear China and act as a political tool of anti-China forces.”
Evil forces see the world through an evil lens and act accordingly, so we can say that Obokata’s reporting of Uighur forced labor as contemporary slavery is only the beginning of his fight to speak the truth and struggle for the oppressed.
International Islamic University Malaysia assistant professor Olsi Jazexhi, who investigated the Uighur situation at China’s invitation in his previous position at Aleksander Moisiu University in Durres, Albania, lost that job because he revealed the truth to the world after his visit.
US basketball star Enes Kanter Freedom and German soccer player Mesut Ozil have also been suspended from their respective teams under threats from China for siding with oppressed Uighurs.
Obokata knowingly took a risk in reporting on Uighur forced labor as contemporary slavery and a crime against humanity.
In a situation where US wrestler John Cena is fearfully asking for forgiveness from China, and billionaires such as Elon Musk are praising China and opening companies in Urumqi, Xinjiang, where a genocide is reportedly ongoing, Obokata’s objective judgement about Uighur forced labor is not only a sign of professionalism, but one of courage. He is virtuous and recognizes his responsibility to fulfill his duties with humanity.
We believe that the objective conclusion of this expert in the field of slave labor can lead the international community to the correct understanding of the Uighur situation. In particular, the report is likely to lead diplomats, experts and journalists working in Middle Eastern, African and Asian countries who are ignoring or even denying the Uighur genocide under the influence of China’s “well organized” trips and its “warm” reception, to rethink their opinions and positions.
This report should also give encouragement and inspiration to Bachelet to keep her promise and publish a “Xinjiang report” before leaving office.
We authors would like to express our sincere thanks to Obokata and Keele University on behalf of the voiceless Uighur people.
Rebiya Kadeer is president of the World Uyghur Congress. Kok Bayraq is a Uyghur American.
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