China is employing coercive tactics to pressure Uyghurs living abroad into spying on human rights activists, using their families back home as leverage. Refugees and activists have reported how intimidating measures are tearing communities apart. The Chinese police, via intermediaries, control video calls between Uyghurs and their family members, offering limited contact in exchange for cooperation overseas. This form of transnational repression is widely used by Chinese authorities, with alarming consequences for Uyghurs living outside China.
Researchers have conducted comprehensive studies on the topic, revealing that family separation is a central tactic, leaving Uyghurs living abroad at the mercy of Chinese authorities. In countries like the UK and Turkey, Chinese police pressure individuals to spy on human rights activists and stop advocacy work, threatening harm to their families if they refuse. Such practices have caused fractures in Uyghur communities and hindered their advocacy efforts. Governments worldwide are starting to address the issue formally, with the US introducing legislation to combat transnational repression, but the complexities of handling these cases remain a challenge.
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