Rebiya Kadeer: Appreciations to Rizwangul NurMuhammad, who spoke about Uyghur genocide in front of Chinese students
Recently, Uyghur woman Rizwangul NurMuhammad, a New Zealand citizen studying at Cornell University in New York, raised the issue of Uyghur genocide at an academic seminar attended primarily by Chinese students, prompting reports that Chinese students had collectively walked out of the seminar and sent a letter that is signed by 88 signatures to university leadership that night. I appreciate Rizwangul! At the seminar, she not only raised the question of why the international community has not responded as strongly to the Uyghur genocide as it has to the war in Ukraine, but she also demonstrated that she is not only an academic but also an activist by standing firm in the face of potential threats from Chinese students and criticizing university leaders for their soft handling of the incident.
Rizwangul’s bravery and legitimate question were also appreciated by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin and former US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley. They showed their support for Rizwangul on Twitter. Rizwangul drew international attention to the Uyghur genocide by speaking out in an academic seminar where political issues are discussed.
I appreciate Rizwangul’s wisdom and courage and wish her every success in her endeavors.
Rebiya Kadeer, Leader of the Uyghur National Movement