Family of Exiled Uighur Leader Faces Eviction

Family members of Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer still living in the Chinese city of Urumqi are facing eviction. According to the Uighur American Association, Kadeer’s family reported that government officials told them that the Kadeer Trade Center, the Akida Trade Center, and a third smaller building—all former property of the Kadeer family—would be demolished.

There’s no official explanation, but the Rebiya Kadeer has called it an act of revenge. She’s been an outspoken critic of the CCP’s treatment of the Uighur people.

More than 30 of Ms. Kadeer’s family members live together in the Akida Trade Center, above a restaurant they own—their sole source of income. But Kadeer’s family members aren’t the only ones depending on the Trade Center. We interviewed Rebiya Kadeer on Tuesday, who spoke to us through a translator.

[Rebiya Kadeer, Exiled Uighur Leader]:
“Actually there are around 2,000 merchant Uighur people who actually kind of make a living from the trade center…this trade center is kind of the last resort of the income for the Uighur people.”

Kadeer tells us that Chinese authorities plan to demolish all three buildings by the end of September.

[Rebiya Kadeer, Exiled Uighur Leader]:
“I really hope they should not demolish or do anything to my family. And actually if the demolishment should take place there will be lots of dissatisfaction towards authority again. I really hope to get as wide a support as possible to stop demolishing my trade centers.”

Once a successful businesswoman in China, Rebiya Kadeer now lives in the Washington, D.C. area. Chinese authorities officially blame her for inciting the deadly unrest between Uighur and Han Chinese in the Xinjiang region last month—a charge she denies.

(NTDTV)