Hong Kong Denies Detention of Uyghur Scholar Abuduwaili Abudureheman
Hong Kong has refuted allegations of detaining Abuduwaili Abudureheman, an Uyghur scholar who human rights activists claim went missing upon his arrival in the city earlier this month.
According to Abudureheman’s friends, he sent a text message on May 10th stating that he was being interrogated by the police at the airport. Since then, there has been no communication from him, as reported to Amnesty International by his acquaintances.
Amnesty International has called upon Hong Kong authorities to disclose his whereabouts. However, the government dismissed the demand as slander, deeming it “groundless and unfounded.”
Officials in Hong Kong further stated that there was no record of Mr. Abuduwaili’s arrival in the territory or any denial of entry.
The Chinese government has faced allegations of conducting a severe crackdown against the Uyghur Muslim minority, although it vehemently denies such accusations.
Abuduwaili Abudureheman, born in Xinjiang, has resided in South Korea for the past seven years, where he obtained a Ph.D. in the sports and leisure industry. As reported by Amnesty, his visit to Hong Kong was intended to see a friend.
The human rights organization received information suggesting that Abuduwaili was on a “watch list” of Uyghurs and other Muslims from the Xinjiang region who had traveled outside China.
Amnesty documented several cases of Uyghurs detained in China and abroad solely based on their history of foreign travel.
“The unknown fate of Abuduwaili Abudureheman is deeply concerning, considering the background of crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs by the Chinese government in Xinjiang, as well as its ongoing pursuit of Uyghurs who have traveled overseas,” stated Alkan Akad, a researcher at Amnesty.
The United States, United Kingdom, and international human rights monitors have accused Beijing of detaining approximately one million Uyghurs in “re-education camps” in Xinjiang, where children are separated from their families and cultural traditions are suppressed.
The region is enveloped in an extensive surveillance network, including the police presence, checkpoints, and surveillance cameras that monitor various aspects ranging from vehicle registration plates to individual faces.
China has also faced allegations of targeting Muslim figures, banning religious practices, demolishing mosques and tombs in Xinjiang, and implementing strict control measures.
In a significant report published last year, the United Nations accused China of “serious human rights violations” in Xinjiang that “may constitute international crimes, particularly crimes against humanity.” The UN urged China to release “all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty.”
