IUHRDF
03-01-06, 06:15
IUHRDF Expresses Condolences to Uyghur Refugee’s Death in Denmark
For Immediate Release
Contact: IUHRDF
1025 Connecticut Avenue,
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-828-1291
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Washington – The International Uyghur Human Rights and Democracy Foundation (IUHRDF) expresses its heartfelt condolences to the death of Burhan Zunun, a Uyghur refugee who sought political asylum in Europe after fleeing Chinese persecution. Fearing that he would soon be deported to China, he committed suicide on Christmas Day and died on December 29 due to injuries in Denmark.
“Mr. Zunun’s death highlights the tragedy of all Uyghur refugees around the world. His death demonstrates that Uyghur refugees would rather commit suicide than be deported to China,†said Rebiya Kadeer, president of IUHRDF.
Zunun, 28, left East Turkestan in 2001 to Kazakhstan, then to Germany. After his asylum claim was rejected by the German immigration in August 2003, he voluntarily returned to Kazakhstan. Fearing that Kazakhstan, an active member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, would hand him over to the Chinese authorities, he recently fled to Europe. He was detained by the Danish authorities on December 23 while on his way to Norway.
The fear of deportation among Uyghur refugees around the world is profound, especially among those Uyghurs whose applications have been rejected. They fear that they would be arrested, tortured, and even executed by the Chinese government if they are deported. As a matter of fact, the Chinese authorities executed many Uyghur refugees deported by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Nepal.
“Mr. Zunun’s death is a wake-up call for the European nations that Uyghur refugees can’t be returned to China. I hope these free nations will not deport Uyghur refugees in the future in light of their terrible treatment in the hands of the Chinese authorities.â€
According to Amnesty International, the Chinese government only executes Uyghur political prisoners and uses extremely cruel and unusual torture methods on Uyghur political activists unknown in other parts of China.
For Immediate Release
Contact: IUHRDF
1025 Connecticut Avenue,
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-828-1291
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Washington – The International Uyghur Human Rights and Democracy Foundation (IUHRDF) expresses its heartfelt condolences to the death of Burhan Zunun, a Uyghur refugee who sought political asylum in Europe after fleeing Chinese persecution. Fearing that he would soon be deported to China, he committed suicide on Christmas Day and died on December 29 due to injuries in Denmark.
“Mr. Zunun’s death highlights the tragedy of all Uyghur refugees around the world. His death demonstrates that Uyghur refugees would rather commit suicide than be deported to China,†said Rebiya Kadeer, president of IUHRDF.
Zunun, 28, left East Turkestan in 2001 to Kazakhstan, then to Germany. After his asylum claim was rejected by the German immigration in August 2003, he voluntarily returned to Kazakhstan. Fearing that Kazakhstan, an active member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, would hand him over to the Chinese authorities, he recently fled to Europe. He was detained by the Danish authorities on December 23 while on his way to Norway.
The fear of deportation among Uyghur refugees around the world is profound, especially among those Uyghurs whose applications have been rejected. They fear that they would be arrested, tortured, and even executed by the Chinese government if they are deported. As a matter of fact, the Chinese authorities executed many Uyghur refugees deported by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Nepal.
“Mr. Zunun’s death is a wake-up call for the European nations that Uyghur refugees can’t be returned to China. I hope these free nations will not deport Uyghur refugees in the future in light of their terrible treatment in the hands of the Chinese authorities.â€
According to Amnesty International, the Chinese government only executes Uyghur political prisoners and uses extremely cruel and unusual torture methods on Uyghur political activists unknown in other parts of China.