The situation around the Muslim Uyghurs in China is drastic. According to the president of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), Pope Francis cannot leave the persecution of the Uyghurs without comment.
The president of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) demands clear words from Pope Francis on the "genocide" of the Muslim ethnic group. The latter - as well as other religious leaders - should raise his voice loudly against China's actions, Dolkun Isa said (Thursday evening) at a lecture in Vienna. Isa, a German citizen since 2006, heads one of the largest Uighur exile organizations based in Munich. He is known in China as a terrorist because of his activities.
"The pope has a weighty voice when it comes to religious freedom," the WUC leader said. He called on Francis to describe the persecution of the Uighur minority as "genocide." In addition, he said, the top representative of the Catholic Church should call on the Chinese regime to end the oppression. Unfortunately, corresponding written requests have not been successful so far.
This is probably related to the fact that Christianity in China also suffers from severe persecution. "China's prisons are full of Christians and members of other religious minorities," Isa said. read more