On the evening of July 20, an esteemed “honorary evening” gathering was organized by the Uyghur Human Rights Project in Washington, DC, to pay tribute to Nuri Turkel, the former chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
The event hosted an esteemed array of guests, including Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the US House of Representatives; Frank Wolf, a former Congressman known for his longstanding advocacy for the Uyghur people; and several representatives from the US government, Congress, and various political organizations. Notably, prominent members of the Canadian Parliament, such as Sameer Zuberi, along with Dolkun Isa, the President of the World Uyghur Congress, and representatives of the Hong Kong Democratic activists, as well as local Uyghur Community representatives from the Washington area, were also present.
Throughout the ceremony, notable figures such as Ms. Nancy Pelosi delivered impactful speeches, lauding Nuri Turkel’s outstanding contributions and addressing critical issues concerning the Uyghur diaspora and community, with a particular focus on the ongoing genocide.
The speakers highlighted the remarkable unity across American politics in the face of challenges confronting the Uyghur community, specifically regarding the pressing matter of the genocide.
Dolkun Isa, President of the World Uyghur Congress and a close ally of Nury Turkel, expressed, “Thanks to the collective efforts of all of you, we have reached a momentous stage where numerous Western countries have acknowledged China’s crimes against the Uyghurs as genocide. However, our mission to save and liberate the Uyghur people remains unfinished. Let us stand strong and continue our united struggle.”
Sameer Zuberi, Chair of the Subcommittee of International Human Rights in the Canadian Parliament, who played a pivotal role in crafting the remarkable Canadian law to accept 10,000 Uyghurs, delivered a speech highlighting the accomplishments of the Canadian government. He called for increased collaboration between the United States, Canada, and other Western allies in their efforts concerning the Uyghur cause.
Nury Turkel is a Uyghur American lawyer who was born in Chinese re-education camps. He is the author of one of the most important books on the Uyghur genocide, titled “No Escape.” Additionally, he served as the former chair and is now a Commissioner of The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and also holds the position of Board Chair of the Uyghur Human Rights Project. Mr. Turkel was listed as one of the 100 Most Influential PEOPLE OF 2020. In 2022, Nury Turkel was sanctioned by the Chinese government and blacklisted.
