Uyghur groups escalate global campaign against China's Ethnic Unity Law

China's newly enforced Ethnic Unity Law has triggered a fresh wave of international advocacy by Uyghur organisations, with the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) taking its campaign to policymakers, lawmakers and global human rights forums across Europe and Japan.According to ANI, the WUC says the legislation institutionalises policies it describes as cultural assimilation and repression against Uyghurs, while urging greater international scrutiny of Beijing's actions.In its latest weekly brief, the Munich-based WUC detailed a series of engagements held between June 26 and July 2, including meetings with Swedish government officials, parliamentarians, civil society groups and international human rights advocates.During a three-day visit to Stockholm from June 26 to 28, a delegation comprising WUC President Turghunjan Alawdun, Vice President Zumretay Arkin, Uyghur Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (UZDM) President Dolkun Isa and Sweden Uyghur Union President Bahtinor Abdurehim met officials from Sweden's Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Member of Parliament Yusuf Aydin and PEN Sweden.The delegation also raised concerns over detained Uyghur intellectuals before participating in a community event commemorating Uyghur poet, writer and activist Kuresh Kosen.

The advocacy campaign later shifted to Paris, where Dolkun Isa addressed delegates at the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty, held between June 30 and July 2. According to the WUC, Isa highlighted concerns that Uyghur political prisoners remain at risk of receiving death sentences under China's judicial system.The organisation said the law's implementation prompted coordinated demonstrations by Uyghur groups and supporters in Berlin, Brussels, London, Washington DC, Sydney, Tokyo, Zurich and Los Angeles.According to ANI, the campaign has also drawn political attention in the United States, where 14 bipartisan members of the House of Representatives urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to publicly condemn the legislation.Separately, on July 2, WUC Vice President Zumretay Arkin participated in a panel discussion at the University of Zurich focusing on transnational repression and the challenges democratic societies face when authoritarian governments allegedly seek to intimidate diaspora communities beyond their borders.China has consistently rejected allegations of genocide, forced labour and systemic repression in Xinjiang, maintaining that its policies are aimed at combating extremism, improving economic development and ensuring social stability.