CFU PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26th, 2026 12:00 PM EST
Contact: contact@campaignforuyghurs.org
https://campaignforuyghurs.org/
Campaign for Uyghurs Thinks of the Uyghur Community this Eid al-Adha
WASHINGTON, DC – As the Muslim community around the world celebrates Eid al-Adha, Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) thinks of the Uyghur community living in East Turkistan (AKA Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region) who are unable to freely practice their religious and cultural traditions, or travel to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage.
Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is a time of reflection, compassion, and unity for Muslims worldwide. However, for Uyghurs living under the Chinese Communist Party’s oppression, this day and all religious holidays are marked by severe restrictions and surveillance, as a part of China’s genocidal policies against the Uyghur, Kazakh, and other ethnic groups. These measures are reinforced through the recent passage of the “ethnic unity law,” which prohibits the expression of Uyghur and other cultures. Even the most basic religious practices, such as attending Eid prayers or exchanging Eid greetings, can result in arrest, detention, surveillance, or forced indoctrination. Instead, religious devotion is to be replaced by loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party.
“While all the Muslims in the world celebrate Eid, Uyghur Muslims are prohibited from practicing their faith, as a clear reminder of China’s war on religion,” said CFU Executive Director Rushan Abbas. “Every person has the fundamental human right to religious freedom and to practice their faith and culture without fear or restriction. China’s persecution of Uyghurs and other groups grows more intense with each passing year and extends beyond its borders. The international community has an obligation to hold China accountable.”
This Eid, CFU urges solidarity with the Uyghur people as they seek justice and human rights. CFU calls on governments to impose targeted sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses, enforce import bans on goods produced with Uyghur forced labor, and hold China accountable for its religious persecution. We also call on the global Muslim community and all defenders of human rights to amplify Uyghur voices and reject efforts to whitewash the realities of China’s repression of Uyghurs and other persecuted communities.
