First reported by The Telegraph
According to a report published on 5 August 2025, The Telegraph revealed that the Chinese government has developed a secretive passport scheme aimed at coercing Uyghurs living abroad to return to China, where they may face detention.
🚩 How the Scam Works
Chinese diplomatic missions are issuing new passports to Uyghurs residing overseas—but deliberately misprint key personal details, like names and dates of birth. For example, chef Obulqasim Ismail—a 52-year-old resident of Kyrgyzstan—was given a passport under the name Aisikaer Nuermaimaiti, and the birthdate was incorrectly listed as 3 August 1966.
These errors render the passports invalid in the eyes of host countries, creating a pretext for revocation of residency or visa status. Individuals like Obulqasim risk being stripped of legal protections and subjected to deportation.
🎯 What Experts Say
- The Telegraph reports suggests Beijing is using this as a new front in the global suppression of Uyghurs abroad.
- Human rights observers warn the tactic reflects China’s broader strategy of indirectly forcing returnees through bureaucratic manipulation—rather than overt detention on foreign soil.
⚠️ What’s at Stake
This covert passport trap threatens to undermine the safety of the Uyghur diaspora. Those affected may face loss of residency status, visa cancellations, and eventual forcible return to China, where they may confront arrest, detention, or further reprisals.
