Join Uyghur scholar Abduweli Ayup for a documentary film screening and discussion. His film Behind the Mask follows Abduweli’s story, documenting how he endured torture at an internment camp in China and sought refuge in Bergen, Norway, with his family. The film was directed and produced by Håvard Bustnes.
1:30 p.m. (after Zuhr) to 3 p.m. | Sunday, April 6 | MCC Conference Room | Join us in person or watch virtually at mcceastbay.org/live
Sponsored by Uyghur Foundation & MCC East Bay.
Now part of the Uyghur diaspora, Abduweli Ayup speaks to give voice to those voiceless and defenseless Uyghurs back home. He will talk about what you can do to stop China’s crimes against humanity.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
- – More lectures & talks about Uyghur Muslims in China: https://mcceastbay.org/uyghur
Millions of Uyghurs are suffering from unspeakable atrocities at the hands of the Chinese government, including forced sterilization of young women, enforced separation of families and placement of children in state orphanages, and the mass detention of more than one million people since 2017 in detention camps and forced labor camps. Uyghurs were also being transferred to factories in China proper and used as modern-day slaves. Uyghurs in the diaspora speak out to be the voice of those voiceless and defenseless Uyghurs back home. Why is China trying to annihilate Uyghurs? What can we do to stop China’s genocide of the Uyghurs?
Abduweli Ayup is a Uyghur activist born in Kashgar, China, in 1973. In August 2013, Ayup was detained by Chinese authorities for his efforts to promote Uyghur linguistic rights by opening schools to teach children the Uyghur language. His detention lasted until November 2014. During this time, he faced harsh interrogation and abuse. Ayup recounted being subjected to interrogation techniques involving threats, physical violence, the tiger chair, and psychological pressure. He described being detained in various facilities, including the Yanbulaq Detention Center in Kashgar and the Urumqi Detention Center, where he witnessed and experienced beatings and sleep deprivation, among other forms of mistreatment. Throughout his ordeal, Ayup maintained his innocence, enduring beatings while refusing to confess to false accusations of involvement in separatist activities or illegal fundraising. After 15 months in detention, Ayup fled China with his family to Turkey. In 2016, Ayup founded the non-profit Uyghur Hjelp to investigate and document the plight of Uyghurs and advocate for their cause. He has continued his efforts to open Uyghur language schools and publish Uyghur language textbooks in the diaspora.
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