Upon hearing the news from Radio Free Asia, “Rebiya Kadeer’s Trade Center Demolished,” my heart ached because it symbolized 50 years of my intellectual and physical labor, the fruits of my children’s sweat and blood, as well as the unity, excellent moral ethics, and national brotherhood spirit of my friends, colleagues, and sincere Uyghur people who supported my trade and industry wholeheartedly. Was the Chinese government attacking the Uyghur national spirit through demolishing this center, or were they attempting to erase the name “Rebiya Kadeer” from the hearts of our people? Or were they simply trying to sell this fertile site to a Chinese company or entrepreneur for their financial gain? This remains unknown to me.

What is clear, however, is this: The Chinese state is a colonial regime in our homeland, East Turkestan, and the Uyghur people are a subjugated nation. Because of this, Chinese authorities can seize and destroy any property in this land at any time under any pretext, without regard for the rights of the property owner. The Chinese government fears the financial prosperity and growth of the Uyghur people. It considers Uyghur-owned wealth as a force and a threat against itself. This mindset did not arise today but has been evident since the beginning of the occupation.

In the past, countless wealthy Uyghurs, like Musabayup, have had their properties confiscated and destroyed through such force. The owners of these riches either ended up like me, living in exile, or rotted away in prisons. By demolishing my trade center this time, the Chinese government has once again blatantly displayed its colonial nature. I am not surprised by this because countless Uyghur businessmen, like Nurtay Haji, Jelil Haji, and Ablimit Khalis Haji, are currently detained in prisons and labor camps. Their wealth is being used to fund the expenses of those very camps.

What astonishes me is the indifference of the international community in the face of such tyranny and plundering in the 21st century. Didn’t China sign the “International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”? According to this covenant, it should not obstruct the existence and flourishing of ethnic minorities under its authority. When China denied the Uyghur genocide at the UN, it claimed to be a lawful state, and many countries at the UN believed this nonsense. Today, which country’s representative will dare to question China about why this trade center, a symbol of Uyghur national identity, was confiscated and demolished?

The key point here is that I am a well-known figure who has been nominated for the Nobel Prize four times, received the Rafto Prize, and was once among the top 11 millionaires in China. My wealth has been subjected to such destruction and unlawfulness. What is happening to the wealth of Uyghur businessmen who have no public organizations backing them and live out of the global spotlight?

Although I have lost my trade center, “Rebiya Kadeer Trade Center,” which brought me strength, honor, and fortune, I have not lost hope. As a Muslim, I firmly believe that those who violate others’ rights will face justice. My determination for political struggle remains unshaken because I believe that, just as I was rescued from a Chinese prison as a former detainee, there will always be international forces that defend justice and demonstrate their power when the time comes.

China may take pride in its tyranny, but it must not forget that while it can demolish our trade centers, it cannot destroy the Uyghur national spirit. It can continuously exploit our natural resources, but it cannot erase the Uyghur people’s aspiration for self-determination and independence from China. Above all, demolishing my trade center will not erase the name “Rebiya Kadeer” from the hearts of my people!

Finally, I urge the international community to demand an explanation from China about why my trade center was demolished without notifying me, the rightful owner, and how the property worth $200 million was handled. I also call for investigations into the physical safety and property conditions of Uyghur businessmen currently detained in prisons and camps.

Rebiya Kadeer
Washington, February 9, 2024