The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) calls on German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to address the ongoing Uyghur genocide, including state-imposed forced labour, transnational repression and China’s newly enacted Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, during his state visit to China from 27 to 31 October. The WUC urges President Steinmeier to raise these concerns directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping, particularly given their implications for Germany’s economic relations with China and the safety of Uyghurs living in Germany.
The visit comes amid renewed warnings from United Nations human rights experts on practices that may amount to crimes against humanity. In January 2026, UN experts expressed alarm over reports of state-imposed forced labour affecting Uyghurs, Tibetans and other ethnic communities in China, highlighting the continuing risks of Uyghur forced labour in global supply chains, including those linked to German businesses.
The WUC is also deeply concerned about China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which entered into force on 1 July 2026. In June, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that the legislation risks deepening restrictions on freedom of language, education, religion, culture, expression and assembly, and called for its repeal. Moreover, on 30 April 2026, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the Chinese government to repeal the aforementioned law. The WUC has condemned the law for further institutionalising policies of forced assimilation and undermining Uyghur identity.
Of particular concern is Article 63, which asserts the application of Chinese law to individuals and organisations outside China accused of undermining ethnic unity. Its broad wording risks providing Chinese authorities with an additional legal pretext for transnational repression against Uyghur communities abroad, including in Germany, where Uyghur activists have reported intimidation, surveillance and pressure on their families in East Turkistan.
“The Uyghur genocide is not confined to East Turkistan. Its consequences extend beyond China’s borders, from forced labour in international supply chains to the intimidation of Uyghurs living abroad,” said WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun. “President Steinmeier must raise these violations directly with Xi Jinping and make clear that Germany’s economic and diplomatic engagement with China cannot come at the expense of Uyghur rights.”
Finally, during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in September 2026, Germany expressed concern that China’s new Ethnic Unity Law further reinforces restrictions on cultural and religious freedoms in East Turkistan and Tibet. The WUC calls on President Steinmeier to follow up on Germany’s stated concerns during his meetings with Chinese officials.
The WUC urges President Steinmeier to demand the closure of any remaining internment camps and the release of arbitrarily detained Uyghurs, an end to state-imposed forced labour and transnational repression, and the repeal of the Ethnic Unity Law. The WUC further calls on him to press China to implement UN human rights recommendations and grant independent UN experts unrestricted access to East Turkistan, including all detention facilities, to investigate ongoing human rights violations.
