Dolkun Isa
Encyclopedia
Dolkun Isa is a noted Uyghur activist from the region of Xinjiang
of northwestern China, also known as East Turkestan
. He has spoken on behalf of the rights of the largely Islamic minority
which makes up the majority population in that region. The government's of China
as well as the current KMT administration in Taiwan
have linked his activities to terrorism
. He is currently World Uyghur Congress
secretary.
from the Chinese government, Isa fled China in 1997 and sought asylum
in Europe, and became a citizen of Germany
in 2006.
, however, this is denied by Isa. This claim by China has led to China's issuance of a red notice
to Interpol
, but this has not been acted on by Germany
or any other country in the West
where he has since travelled. He has been on a Chinese list of wanted terrorists since 2003. Contrary to China's claims, Isa has condemned all terrorist activities.
which were held in Beijing
due to the cultural genocide
that was being conducted against the people of East Turkestan
and Tibet
.
in 2006 to attend the meeting of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
, a movement co-founded by Taiwan in 1991, during the administration of pro-localization president
Chen Shui-bian
. There were reports in Taiwan's media in July 2009 that Isa had secretly entered the country in the lead-up to the World Games
which were hosted in the southern city of Kaohsiung
. This prompted the National Immigration Agency
of the current China-friendly KMT government to issue a ban on his travel to Taiwan. Rebiya Kadeer
was denied a visa
to visit Taiwan later in 2009, a move linked to Isa's alleged connections with terrorists. Premier
Wu Den-yih
noted that if Isa steps down from his position in the World Uyghur Congress or if Kadeer steps down from her position, the ban would be lifted.
. The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
condemned the detention and warned the Korean government in a letter that China's accusations are groundless and that extradition
would certainly result in summary trial and execution at the hands of China's authorities. After being held for two days, Isa was released without being admitted to the country, a move that was condemned by Amnesty International
.
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
of northwestern China, also known as East Turkestan
East Turkestan
East Turkestan is a controversial political term with multiple meanings depending on context and usage...
. He has spoken on behalf of the rights of the largely Islamic minority
Minority group
A minority is a sociological group within a demographic. The demographic could be based on many factors from ethnicity, gender, wealth, power, etc. The term extends to numerous situations, and civilizations within history, despite the misnomer of minorities associated with a numerical statistic...
which makes up the majority population in that region. The government's of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
as well as the current KMT administration in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
have linked his activities to terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. He is currently World Uyghur Congress
World Uyghur Congress
The World Uyghur Congress is an international organisation of exiled Uyghur groups said to "represent the collective interest of the Uyghur people" both inside and outside of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China...
secretary.
Flee China
After enduring persecutionPersecution
Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another group. The most common forms are religious persecution, ethnic persecution, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these terms. The inflicting of suffering, harassment, isolation,...
from the Chinese government, Isa fled China in 1997 and sought asylum
Right of asylum
Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...
in Europe, and became a citizen of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 2006.
East Turkestan Independence Movement
China's government claims Isa is the vice chairman of the East Turkestan Liberation OrganizationEast Turkestan Liberation Organization
The East Turkestan Liberation Organization is a secessionist Uyghur organization that advocates an independent state called "East Turkestan" in the Western Chinese territory known as Xinjiang...
, however, this is denied by Isa. This claim by China has led to China's issuance of a red notice
Red notice
An Interpol notice or international notice is issued by Interpol to share information between its members. There are seven types, six of which are known by their colour codes: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Black, Orange....
to Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
, but this has not been acted on by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
or any other country in the West
West
West is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.West is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of east and is perpendicular to north and south.By convention, the left side of a map is west....
where he has since travelled. He has been on a Chinese list of wanted terrorists since 2003. Contrary to China's claims, Isa has condemned all terrorist activities.
Olympic Boycott
Isa called for a boycott of the 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
which were held in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
due to the cultural genocide
Cultural genocide
Cultural genocide is a term that lawyer Raphael Lemkin proposed in 1933 as a component to genocide. The term was considered in the 1948 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples juxtaposed next to the term ethnocide, but it was removed in the final document, replaced with...
that was being conducted against the people of East Turkestan
East Turkestan
East Turkestan is a controversial political term with multiple meanings depending on context and usage...
and Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
.
Taiwan Controversy
Isa was admitted to TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in 2006 to attend the meeting of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization , formed in 11 February 1991, in The Hague, is an international organization of political organisations and governments representing self-proclaimed "indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognised or occupied territories". The organization...
, a movement co-founded by Taiwan in 1991, during the administration of pro-localization president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
. There were reports in Taiwan's media in July 2009 that Isa had secretly entered the country in the lead-up to the World Games
World Games
The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports, or disciplines or events within a sport, that are not contested in the Olympic Games...
which were hosted in the southern city of Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
. This prompted the National Immigration Agency
National Immigration Agency
National Immigration Agency or ' is the statutory agency under the Ministry of Interior which is responsible for immigration, entry and exit security, border services, citizenship, visas, and registration of foreigners transiting the Free Area of the Republic of China. The agency is headed by the...
of the current China-friendly KMT government to issue a ban on his travel to Taiwan. Rebiya Kadeer
Rebiya Kadeer
Rebiya Kadeer is a prominent Uyghur businesswoman and political activist from the northwest region of Xinjiang Autonomus Region of the People's Republic of China...
was denied a visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
to visit Taiwan later in 2009, a move linked to Isa's alleged connections with terrorists. Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
Wu Den-yih
Wu Den-yih
Wu Den-yih is a Taiwanese politician of the Kuomintang Party, and the current Premier of the Republic of China.-Personal:Wu was born in Tsaotun, Nantou County, Taiwan...
noted that if Isa steps down from his position in the World Uyghur Congress or if Kadeer steps down from her position, the ban would be lifted.
South Korea entry denial
Isa was denied entry into the Republic of Korea and was detained in September, 2009 while preparing to attend the World Forum for Democratization in AsiaWorld Forum for Democratization in Asia
-Introduction:The World Forum for Democratization in Asia -Introduction:The World Forum for Democratization in Asia -Introduction:The World Forum for Democratization in Asia (WFDA has been set up in 2005 to enhance political development and conduct democracy promotion activities in Asia. WFDA's...
. The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization , formed in 11 February 1991, in The Hague, is an international organization of political organisations and governments representing self-proclaimed "indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognised or occupied territories". The organization...
condemned the detention and warned the Korean government in a letter that China's accusations are groundless and that extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
would certainly result in summary trial and execution at the hands of China's authorities. After being held for two days, Isa was released without being admitted to the country, a move that was condemned by Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
.