Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Yalkun Uluyol

Human Rights Watch en français @hrw-fr.hrw.org · 14d

« Exprimer sa solidarité avec les Tibétains et les Ouïgours et promouvoir leurs droits n’est pas un crime. Zhang Yadi est la dernière victime en date des arrestations politiques de Pékin » - @yalkun.bsky.social ⤵

Le Monde @lemonde.fr · 15d

Zhang Yadi, étudiante chinoise en France et militante pro-Tibet, arrêtée lors d’un séjour en Chine

La jeune femme écrivait notamment pour « Chinese Youth Stand for Tibet », un site d’information en mandarin. Cet engagement peut lui valoir l’accusation de séparatisme.

www.lemonde.fr

6 11

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · 15d

Beijing is threatening to imprison student-activist Zhang Yadi for years for speaking out against racial injustice and peacefully exercising her rights. She should be starting graduate school in London, not jail. Governments should press for her freedom.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

China: Free Student Advocate for Tibetan Rights

Chinese authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Zhang Yadi, an advocate for Tibetan rights who had been an international student in France.

www.hrw.org

6 10

Reposted by Yalkun Uluyol

Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs @marylawlorhrds.bsky.social · 27d

It was lovely reuniting with Uyghur HRD Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social for a #HRC60 side event in Geneva, alongside my trusted colleague Orsolya Toth. Yalkun's father, Memet Yaqup, was wrongfully imprisoned for 16 years by the Chinese government for committing no recognizable crime.

Uyghur human rights defender Yalkun Uluyol takes a selfie with UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders Mary Lawlor and UN Human Rights Officer Orsolya Toth in Geneva. They are smiling and standing close together indoors, with a marble wall in the background.

2 5

Reposted by Yalkun Uluyol

人權觀察 Human Rights Watch @hrwchinese.bsky.social · 29d

人權觀察研究員亞力坤・烏魯堯勒 @yalkun.bsky.social 今天在日內瓦的聯合國周邊會議上發言：

「作為一名 #維吾爾人，有一天，我父親緊急打電話給我說，好好照顧你的母親和妹妹。然後他就消失了。15天後，他再次上線。我估計他曾被短暫拘留期。

兩個月後，我的父親再次失蹤，但這次我再也沒有收到他的回覆，也沒有任何告別。我花了約兩年時間才弄清楚他是否還活著。我追蹤到他在我家鄉的一個『政治再教育營』裡。我又花了兩年時間才發現他被判處16年監禁。我不知道他的具體位置，不清楚他的健康狀況⋯⋯

1 2 4

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · Sep 5

The Chinese governments committed crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and is trying to cover up. My father included, hundreds and thousands of Uyghurs remain unjustly imprisoned. The UN and others should press for accountability.

My op-ed @thehill.com

thehill.com/opinion/inte...

thehill.com

8 10

Reposted by Yalkun Uluyol

mayawang.bsky.social @mayawang.bsky.social · Sep 5

"Some diplomats asked me if it is still worth making public statements about abuses in Xinjiang...The answer is a resounding yes." Heartbreaking and personal by
@yalkun.bsky.social China's committed crimes against humanity and should be held accountable: thehill.com/opinion/inte...

3 5

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · Sep 5

I'll speak at a #HRC60 side event on human rights in China, alongside Mary Lawlor, Rizwangul NurMuhammed, and Sophie Richardson, moderated by Raphael Viana David. We'll discuss the chilling effects of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances in China on human rights and offer recommendations.

4 7

Reposted by Yalkun Uluyol

Juliane Kippenberg @jkippenberg.bsky.social · Sep 3

Kabwe/ Zambia: Province & district authorities just closed 4 Chinese processing plants for environmental law violations.

This is a significant step by the Zambian govt. Processing lead-contaminated waste endangers resident's health.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...

Zambia: Mining in Toxic Lead Waste Poisons Children

Zambia’s government is facilitating hazardous mining and processing of toxic lead waste in the city of Kabwe that poses major health risks to children.

www.hrw.org

14 33

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · Aug 29

www.hrw.org/news/2024/08...

China: UN Needs to Address Crimes Against Humanity

The Chinese government persists in committing crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang while denying repression there, Human Rights Watch said today.

www.hrw.org

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · Aug 29

No accountability for Uyghurs.

Three years ago, the UN Human Rights said Beijing's abuses against Uyghurs may amount to #CrimesAgainstHumanity. China rejects the findings and recommendations. The High Commissioner Volker Turk has not provided an update.

Robust follow up is needed.

1 3 3

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · Aug 15

The national security trial in Hong Kong against Jimmy Lai, owner of the shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was again postponed on August 15, 2025, for health reasons.

The following statement can be attributed to @elainepearson.bsky.social, Asia director @hrw.org

Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch:
“The Hong Kong government should drop the baseless charges against Jimmy Lai. Holding the 77-year-old Lai in prolonged solitary detention while his health fails has been outrageously cruel.
Concerned governments should press for Lai’s immediate release both for his sake and for the sake of media freedom in Hong Kong and China.”

1 2

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · Aug 11

UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor urged Chinese authorities to provide detailed information on the health conditions and treatment, and access to family members and legal representatives, of 7 human rights defenders serving prison sentences in China.

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

UN Special Rapporteur: China must uphold the rights of imprisoned human rights defenders

GENEVA – China must uphold the rights of imprisoned human rights defenders, including by ensuring that they are not subjected to torture or ill-treatment, a UN expert said today.“I have been disturbed...

www.ohchr.org

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · Aug 7

Macao authorities should unconditionally release the former lawmaker and veteran pro-democracy activist Au Kam San, who was arrested on national security charges. This is the first time the Law on Safeguarding National Security has been invoked in Macao.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/08...

Macao: Ex-Lawmaker Held on National Security Charge

Macao authorities should unconditionally release the former lawmaker and veteran pro-democracy activist Au Kam San (區錦新), who was arrested on national security charges.

www.hrw.org

1

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · Jun 12

"The EU should incorporate human rights across all areas of engagement with China, to break the artificial silos created by separately addressing unfair trade practices, security concerns, foreign interference, and economic security." @hderengerve.bsky.social @hrw.org
www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...

www.hrw.org

1

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · Jun 11

New Report: "Risk at the Source" by
Global Rights Compliance exposes how #UyghurForcedLabor is linked to critical minerals supply chain, feeding aerospace, automotive, battery, defense, medical, & electronics industries, at the cost of crimes against humanity.

apnews.com/article/chin...

Rights group says global brands are at risk of links to forced labor in China's minerals industry

An international rights group says several global brands are among dozens of companies at risk of using forced labor through their Chinese supply chains.

apnews.com

5 3

Reposted by Yalkun Uluyol

yasmineahmed.bsky.social @yasmineahmed.bsky.social · Jun 10

🚨 My latest for @hrw.org in the @thenewarab.bsky.social

If the UK is serious about exerting pressure on 🇮🇱, there is a glaringly obvious ‘concrete action’ it can take:

A COMPLETE & COMPREHENSIVE ARMS EMBARGO ON ISRAEL NOW

⬇️

www.newarab.com/opinion/with...

Without stopping arms to Israel, UK Gaza ‘concern’ is empty talk

If the UK has any spine on Gaza, it must at least use its political leverage and impose a total arms embargo on Israel, writes Yasmine Ahmed.

www.newarab.com

2 19 34

Reposted by Yalkun Uluyol

mayawang.bsky.social @mayawang.bsky.social · Jun 6

Breaking‼️ While imprisoned under one trumped-up charge, Joshua Wong has been suddenly slapped with yet another as the authorities appear intent on keeping one of Hong Kong's most influential democracy leaders behind bars. This decision is arbitrary, cruel, and outrageous.

4 64 170

Reposted by Yalkun Uluyol

Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · Jun 4

36 years on, and the Chinese government still seeks to erase the memory of the June 1989 #TiananmenMassacre.

World leaders should renew pressure on Beijing to acknowledge the Tiananmen Massacre and provide reparations to victims' families. bit.ly/3FjDLD6

17 240 480

Reposted by Yalkun Uluyol

Belkis Wille @belkiswille.bsky.social · Jun 3

Russia’s drone attacks on civilians in Kherson are war crimes and crimes against humanity.
States must continue support for investigation & prosecution of those responsible.
📘 @hrw report: www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...
Accountability #Ukraine #IHL

4 5

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · Jun 3

36 years in, the Chinese gvrnmnt still seeks to erase the memory of the Tiananmen Massacre. The authorities should cease censorship, allow commemorations, provide compensation to the victims’ families, and hold accountable officials responsible for abuses. www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...

China: Address Tiananmen Massacre 36 Years On

36 years after the killing of countless peaceful pro-democracy protesters in Beijing, the Chinese government still seeks to erase the memory of the June 1989 Tiananmen Massacre.

www.hrw.org

3 4

Reposted by Yalkun Uluyol

mayawang.bsky.social @mayawang.bsky.social · May 30

There's "a fragile but emerging global coalition that joins far-right elements in the United States, Russia, and China". New piece by @masonlwong.bsky.social and me on rising far-right in China + cross-fertilization between them & those elements in Russia, US foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/29/c... THREAD

American Far-Right Views Are Welcome in China

Racists in the United States and Chinese nationalists share common ground.

foreignpolicy.com

1 16 23

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · May 29

China’s economy runs on Uyghur forced labour

More than 100 global brands are linked to a scheme that ships Xinjiang ethnic minorities to work in factories thousands of miles away

www.thebureauinvestigates.com

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · May 29

New investigation shows thousands of Uyghurs are *still* subjected to state-imposed forced labor in 70 factories across China, supplying over 100 global brands. They have no right to say no, work under strict control, and face political indoctrination. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Uyghur Workers Are Moved to Factories Across China to Supply Global Brands

China’s persecution of Uyghurs prompted the U.S. to ban Xinjiang imports. China found a way around it — by shipping more Uyghurs across the country.

www.nytimes.com

1 1

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · May 27

The Chinese government reportedly detained at least 8 church members since May 16. Pope Leo should press Beijing to immediately & unconditionally free all Catholic clergy who have been imprisoned, forcibly disappeared, or subjected to house arrest and other harassment.

CHRD人权捍卫者 @chrdnet.bsky.social · May 26

Police in Xi’an detained several Christians, including pastor Gao Quanfu, from a house church in mid-May, charging them with “using superstitious beliefs to undermine the implementation of the law.” The Chinese government’s crackdown on #ReligiousFreedom continues unabated.

CHRD人权捍卫者 @chrdnet.bsky.social · May 26

关注 #锡安之光教会案

据维权网报道，自5月16日开始，教会 #高全福牧师、 #焦勇牧师、 #唐秉义牧师、 #汪懿博长老、 #郭茹传道、 #李庆同工、 #杜鹃同工、 #刘策传道等八人陆续被以涉嫌 #利用迷信破坏法律实施罪刑拘。目前家属均已决定聘请律师进行诉讼。 wqw2010.blogspot.com/2025/05/blog...

1 6 18

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · May 16

[email protected] reiterates its regrets that the European Union continues to hold its human rights dialogue with China and call for the human rights dialogue to be suspended and replaced by more meaningful and impactful measures.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/05...

Human Rights Watch submission ahead of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue

Human Rights Watch reiterates its regrets that the European Union continues to hold its human rights dialogue with China, given that no guarantees or improvements have been secured over its past 39 it...

www.hrw.org

3 3