World Uyghur Congress condemns China's campaign of threats, disinformation and smear tactics against staff, scholars

** The World Uyghur Congress (WUC), a rights organisation,has condemned an alleged continuing campaign of 'threats, disinformation and smear tactics' by China against its staff, leadership and scholars.**

"In the last few weeks, the WUC, along with its leadership members and staff have been the target of an apparently coordinated campaign of disinformation and smear tactics, orchestrated by anonymous accounts, via individualised videos and posts," WUC said in a statement.

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"It is deeply troubling that this campaign includes attempts to intimidate and tarnish the personal reputations of WUC’s leadership and its female and male staff," WUC said in a statement.

The smear campaigns have targeted especially staff members and leadership, including WUC’s interim president, Dr. Erkin Ekrem, Vice President, Perhat Muhammed, and staff members, Erkin Zunun, Ekber Tursun, Iptihar Abduréshit, Zumretay Arkin, using their private lives to spread disinformation, harm their credibility and reputation within the community and beyond and put them at risk of attack.

A suspicious package was also sent to the private residence of a staff member, WUC claimed.

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"These tactics are an indication of the lengths that some will go to, to silence the WUC and the Uyghur cause," WUC said.

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"The Chinese government has long sought to silence Uyghur human rights activists, and critics by fabricating lies and smear campaigns. These attacks can be dangerous and undermine an entire movement."

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