15 countries called on China to release Uyghur prisoners

15 Western countries have signed a public statement demanding that China release all detained Uyghurs and Tibetans and allow human rights activists to return home.

The statement was signed by Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Great Britain and the United States.

The signatories stressed that China should respect its human rights obligations and implement the recommendations of the international community to improve human rights.

In particular, the US called China's actions against the Uyghurs "genocide". Ilshat Hasan Kokburi, vice president of the World Uyghur Congress, said he was glad the announcement was made, but it was time to take more concrete steps to bring about change in China.

"The genocide has not stopped. This is an urgent matter. The world must take stronger measures to stop the crimes committed by the Chinese government," he added.

Earlier, the leaders of the World Uyghur Congress, which will be held every three years in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from October 24 to 27, reported that there was strong pressure and harassment from China to prevent this event from taking place.

"Since we announced that our General Assembly will be held in Sarajevo in June, we have faced many threats, including defamation campaigns against our members and candidates for higher positions," said Zumretai Arkin, director of the World Uyghur Congress, in an interview with "Ozodlik".

The organization, according to Arkin, experienced hacking attacks and physical threats against members and their families in the run-up to the meeting, which was attended by diaspora representatives from more than 25 countries - Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America.

"They tried to prevent the meeting in Sarajevo in every possible way," says Zumretay Arkin.