Beijing

Some 55 Uyghur organizations have called on world leaders to recognize December 9 as Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day.

On December 9, 2021, an independent UK-based Uyghur Tribunal announced its findings that China committed genocide against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in its Xinjiang region.

Uyghur organizations from 20 countries have asked global leaders to take action to end the Chinese government's human rights atrocities against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs.

"On December 9, 2021, after 18 months of investigations, and reading through hundreds of thousands of pages of documents and holding hearings from witnesses, the Uyghur Tribunal declared China's crimes in East Turkestan as genocide," president of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), Dolkun Isa was quoted as saying.

"By declaring this day as Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day, we want to draw the international community's attention to this ongoing genocide. By commemorating the day, we want to mobilize countries, peoples and international organizations to stop the genocide," he said.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in late August, issued a report that documented the abuses, including arbitrary arrests, forced abortions, torture and violations of religious freedom.

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The report said the atrocities against Uyghurs "may constitute international crimes, particularly crimes against humanity".