By Uyghur Times Staff
April 8, 2025 | Paris, France
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has filed a legal complaint in Paris against Dahua Technology France, Hikvision France, and Huawei France, accusing them of complicity in crimes against humanity targeting the Uyghur people in East Turkistan.
Filed by renowned human rights lawyer William Bourdon of Bourdon & Associés, the complaint charges the companies with aiding the Chinese government’s mass surveillance and repression system. These technologies have played a central role in Beijing’s genocidal campaign against Uyghurs.
Allegations and Legal Basis
According to the WUC, the 45-page legal complaint includes the following charges:
- Concealment of complicity in aggravated servitude
- Concealment of complicity in human trafficking by an organized group
- Concealment of complicity in genocide
- Concealment of complicity in crimes against humanity
WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun stated, “This submission is a critical reminder that corporations complicit in China’s genocide must be held legally accountable. We trust that the French judicial system will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves.”
Supporting Evidence
The complaint is backed by extensive public records and evidence, showing how these companies provided facial recognition and AI-powered surveillance tools used in the oppression of Uyghurs. Hikvision cameras have been seen around mosques, schools, streets, and even inside Uyghur homes. Internal leaks and independent studies confirm that Hikvision developed software to racially profile Uyghurs and alert authorities.
International Collaboration
This legal effort is supported by the NGO Don’t Fund Russian Army, which has also documented the use of Hikvision and Dahua systems in Ukraine. The NGO’s director, Olha Matseliukh, emphasized their shared mission with WUC: “We want to ensure accountability for companies fueling both the Uyghur genocide and security threats in Europe.”
“This is not just about justice for the Uyghur people; it is a warning to every company enabling crimes through technology,” said WUC’s Turgunjan Alawdun.
Legal and International Perspective
This case could mark a significant step in international efforts to hold corporations legally responsible for their role in systemic human rights violations, especially as many continue to operate freely across Europe.
