VOA Uyghur News Recap: October 18-27

October 27, 2021

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is seeking answers from Arizona-based Universal Electronics Inc. about its alleged role in using Uyghurs as forced laborers in China. A UEI spokesperson told VOA that the company looked forward to working with senators on the questions they raised and said the company “made the decision last week to end its relationship with the staffing agency that hired these workers.” Elise Anderson, senior program officer for research and advocacy at the Washington-based Uyghur Human Rights Project, told VOA that the Senate inquiry sent the message that lawmakers intend to hold corporations accountable and that it could signal further action such as hearings or even legislation.

China erased NBA player Enes Kanter from social media after the Boston Celtics player posted two separate videos criticizing the Chinese government’s treatment of Tibetans and Uyghurs. China immediately stopped playing Celtics games on Chinese platforms. Elise Anderson, senior program officer for research and advocacy at the Washington-based Uyghur Human Rights Project, told VOA that Kanter’s speaking out about the Uyghur crisis is highly significant. “By virtue of his celebrity, Kanter has the ability to galvanize public support on a broad and wide scale,” she said.

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