Interviews with Rebiya Kadeer

Of course, there are many nations in the world that face different levels of tragedy, but the one and only nation that is facing the most catastrophes is my people, in my opinion. In order to accomplish a nation’s destiny, the nation must have a leader. Our latest leaders were killed already by a scandalous plane crash after the Chinese government called for a meeting.

They scared the Uyghur people by keeping them under tight control. Uyghur people could not have the world hear their voice. History creates a person for the era. Such a person will become the reason for changing the nation’s and the people’s destiny. At that time I recognized myself as a person who is well respected by the people, acknowledged by the Chinese government, and accepted by the world society.

At that time, I realized that I can be the voice of my people and it is my responsibility to let the world know about the cruelty my people are facing. I recognized that there is no turning back from those responsibilities and that I had to make sacrifices. But I also thought of the thousands and ten thousands of mothers who are facing their children being sentenced to prison.

I thought of their eyes while they were searching for some kind of savior, someone like me. Therefore, I promised myself that I would get out and become such a voice for them no matter what the consequences are. I thought that I could be that person. I took this responsibility.

The Chinese also realized that I am this person and tried to shut my voice down by arresting my children and confiscating all my wealth. They tried all the pressure in the world to stop me. But I will never stop. I am the only way for my people’s destiny to be changed. I am their voice. It is my responsibility to lead them. Therefore, I chose this path. Therefore, I made this sacrifice.

Rebiya Kadeer is a human rights defender, a former prisoner of conscience, and a leader of the Uyghur people. The Uyghurs are Turkic Muslims from China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region, which most Uyghurs call by its former name, East Turkistan.

Born into a poor family, Kadeer became the owner of a small business and eventually one of the richest people in China. She was appointed to a number of prominent positions by the Beijing government and thought that as an insider she could safely call the government’s attention to human rights violations against her fellow Uyghurs. But she was soon removed from these positions and was arrested and imprisoned in 1999 after attempting to meet with a visiting U.S. delegation from the Library of Congress.

When she refused to renounce her human rights advocacy, the government began arresting her children, several of whom are still in detention.

Released in 2005 on the eve of a visit to China by then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Kadeer now lives in the United States. She serves as president of the Uyghur-American Association and the World Uyghur Congress and continues to speak out for freedom and democracy.