H.R. 4785 — what changed

changed The People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues to repress the distinct Islamic, Turkic identity of Uyghurs and members of other minority groups of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwestern China.China and other areas of their habitual residence.

changed Uyghurs, and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities living in historically making up the XUAR, majority of the XUAR population, have maintained throughout their history a distinct religious and cultural identity.

changed Human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, and respect for the Uyghurs’ unique Muslim identity are legitimate interests of the international community, including the particular concern of Islamic nations.community.

changed The People’s Republic of China has ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and is thereby bound by its provisions. China The PRC has also signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Article One of both covenants state that all peoples have the right to self-determination.

changed An official campaign to encourage Han Chinese migration into the XUAR has placed immense pressure on those who seek to preserve the ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic traditions of the Uyghurs Uyghur people. Chinese authorities have supported an influx of Han Chinese economic immigrants into the XUAR, implemented discrimination against Uyghurs in hiring practices, and provided unequal access to healthcare services.

changed The authorities of the People’s Republic of China have manipulated the strategic objectives of the international war on terror to increase mask their increasing cultural and religious oppression of the Muslim population residing in the XUAR.

changed Following unrest in the region, in 2014, Chinese authorities launched their “Strike Hard against Violent Extremism” campaign, in which dubious threats allegations of widespread extremist activity were used as justification for gross human rights violations committed against members of the Uyghur community in the XUAR.

changed Chinese PRC authorities have made use of the legal system as a tool of repression, including for the imposition of arbitrary detentions and for torture against members of the Uyghur community and other populations.

changed Uyghurs and Kazakhs who have secured citizenship or permanent residency outside of China the PRC have attested to repeated threats, harassment, and surveillance by Chinese PRC officials.

changed Reporting from international news organizations has found that over the past decade, family members of Uyghurs living outside of China the PRC have gone missing or been detained to force their Uyghur expatriates to return to China the PRC or silence their dissent.

changed Independent accounts from former detainees of “political reeducation” centers describe inhumane conditions and treatment including forced political indoctrination, torture, beatings, rape, forced sterilization, and food deprivation. Former detainees also confirmed that they were told by guards the only way to secure release was to demonstrate sufficient political loyalty.loyalty to the PRC Government and the Chinese Communist Party.

changed News Popular discourse surrounding the ongoing atrocities in the XUAR and advocacy efforts to assist Uyghurs remains muted in most Muslim majority nations around the world.

changed Both Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Former Secretary of State Michael Pompeo have stated that the Chinese PRC government in Xinjiang has committed genocide and crimes against humanity.humanity against Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in the XUAR.

changed Government branches bodies of other multiple nations have also declared genocide that PRC government atrocities against such populations in Xinjiang, the XUAR constitute genocide, including the parliaments of the United Kingdom, Belgium, Czechia, Lithuania, the Netherlands Netherlands, and Canada.

changed calls upon the Government of the People’s Republic of China to open the XUAR to regular regular, transparent, and unmanipulated visits by United States members of the press, Members of Congress, Congressional congressional staff delegations, the United States Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues under section 4, and members and staff of the Congressional-Executive Commission on the People’s Republic of China;

changed calls upon the Government of the People’s Republic of China to recognize, and seek to ensure, ensure the preservation of, the distinct ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic identity of Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in the XUAR;

changed urges countries with sizeable Muslim populations, given commonalities in their common religious and cultural identity, identities, to demonstrate particular concern over the plight of Uyghurs.

changed coordinate United States State Government policies, programs, and projects concerning the Uyghurs;

changed maintain close contact with Uyghur religious, cultural, and political leaders of the Uyghurs, leaders, including seeking regular travel to the XUAR and to Uyghur settlements populations in Central Asia, Turkey, Albania, Germany, and other parts of Europe;

changed consult with the United States Congress on policies relevant to the XUAR and the Uyghurs;

changed make efforts to establish contacts with foreign ministries of other countries, especially in Europe, Central Asia, and members of the Organisation of Islamic world, Cooperation, to pursue a policy of promoting greater respect for human rights and religious freedom for Uyghurs and other groups.ethnic and religious minority groups persecuted in the PRC.

changed Funding for human rights advocates— Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the U.S. Speaker Program in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State, $250,000 for each of fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024 is authorized to be available for human rights advocates on behalf of the Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups, groups persecuted in the PRC, whose names may be provided by representatives of the global Uyghur community and in consultation with the Department of State and the United States Special Coordinator for Uyghur Issues under section 4, in consultation with representatives of the global Uyghur community, to speak at public diplomacy forums in Organisation of Islamic majority Cooperation countries and other regions on issues regarding the human rights and religious freedom of Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups persecuted in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).PRC.

changed United States Agency states agency for Global Media—global media— It is the sense of Congress that the United States Agency for Global Media should facilitate the unhindered dissemination of information to Organisation of Islamic majority Cooperation countries on issues regarding the human rights and religious freedom of Uyghurs and members of other minority groups in the XUAR.

changed Sense of Congress congress on political reeducation and detention facilities— It is the sense of Congress that the United States Government should, in cooperation with other like-minded countries, develop a strategy to—

changed Sense of Congress congress on prison access and prisoner release— It is the sense of Congress that the President and Secretary of State, in meetings with representatives of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, should—

changed seek access for international humanitarian organizations, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to prisoners in the XUAR to ensure such prisoners are not being mistreated and are receiving necessary medical care;care; and

changed seek the immediate release of all prisoners who have been arbitrarily detained and sentenced without due process, including Ekpar Asat, who participated in the Department of State’s International Visitors Leadership Program in 2016 and 2016, was incarcerated after returning to the XUAR XUAR, and is now serving a 15-year 15 year prison sentence on charges of “inciting ethnic hatred and ethnic discrimination”; anddiscrimination”.