Repression and the Human Rights Crisis in Asia

Turkey is urging China to protect the cultural rights of the Muslim Uighur minority in Xinjiang province and allow them to live according to their values. Turkey has strong cultural and ethnic ties to the Uyghurs, and many have sought refuge there due to human rights abuses in China. China is accused of imprisoning over a million Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities in so-called re-education camps.

In another event, about 60 North Koreans were forcibly repatriated by China, putting them at risk of detention, torture, sexual violence, forced labor, and execution. The pandemic has worsened North Korea’s humanitarian crisis, leading to increased state control, pressure on citizens, and food shortages. The government has also tightened surveillance, restricted domestic and international travel, and limited access to information.

Furthermore, Kailash Sirohiya, the owner of Nepal’s largest media company, has been arrested after his company published critical reports about a government minister. This event raises concerns about Nepal’s status as a haven for free speech in South Asia, especially as neighboring countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are moving toward authoritarianism.