UMMAH

SOCIAL 22 - 23 My innocent husband was sentenced to 25 years

These testimonies are the stories of Uyghurs and Falun Gong Practitioners affected by the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to commit genocide against them and other minorities. Their families and friends are at risk of forced organ harvesting. Many have pledged to never source an organ from China if they ever needed one.

END TRANSPLANT ABUSE IN CHINA called re-education system where he “graduated” and was released 2 years later in May Mehray Mezensof 2019. Just when we thought our nightmare was over, my husband was detained again in May 2020 for the same reason as the first My name is Mehray time. However, this time he was released afMezensof and I am a reg- ter 100 days. istered nurse who lives Not long after my husband was released, in Melbourne, Austral- he was detained again for the third time. I ia. My husband, Mirzat didn’t know this would be the last time. He Taher, an Australian knew that Chinese police were coming to permanent resident, is detain him as he had been notified prior. currently being held in He told me this over the Chinese messaga prison in Urumqi, Xin- ing platform WeChat on the 26th of Septemjiang as part of the Uyghur genocide and ber 2020. That was the last time I spoke to systematic crackdown being committed him. This time, my husband was sentenced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). to 25 years in prison for “participating in a My husband Mirzat is a really friendly, terrorist organization, splitting the country easy-going and down to earth guy. He has and preparing to commit terrorist activities.” an amazing relationship with his family; he This was absolutely bizarre and ridicuis very family oriented. lous because my husband has done no such

He is the type of guy who gets along well thing. I believe the reason for his persecuwith anyone regardless of their age. He was tion is because of his ethnicity and his travalways smiling and laughing. els to Turkey.

Whilst my husband lived in Turkey he My husband is currently being held in a worked as a tour guide. When he returned prison in Urumqi. Initially he was taken to to Urumqi, he was helping run the family a pre-trial detention centre in Hami where business; his father’s kebab shop. he was held for 17 months and then he was

My husband and I met online in 2016, transferred to Xinjiang No 1 Prison in Feband we got married in August. I stayed with ruary this year. my husband in Urumqi whilst his Austral- I am so afraid that I will not get a chance ian visa was getting processed. His spouse to be reunited with my husband again. I am visa was granted in April 2017, but before so scared that I will never be able to see him we were able to leave my husband was arbi- or speak to him again. I worry deeply about trarily detained by police. how he is, the conditions that he is living

We didn’t know at the time, but this was under and the torture that he is having to enthe beginning of the mass detention of Uy- dure. ghurs. At the time, the reason given for his It absolutely scares me to not know anydetention was that he traveled overseas and thing about how he is doing. It also scares lived in Turkey. me how long he will be detained for – I am

My husband went through the CCP’s so- in disbelief that he can possibly be locked away for 25 years.

I feel absolutely heartbroken and extremely upset and angry that we are living in the 21st century and there is a genocide happening right in front of our eyes, yet China is getting away with it and has been getting away with it for the past 5 years.

I want the world to know my story and every other Uyghurs’ stories and to please try and do everything they can to help us reunite with our loved ones again.

I question, in what universe is it okay for innocent people to be locked up and sentenced to prison for no other reason than for their ethnicity? How can it be normal that us Uyghurs have lost all contact with our family members, and have no way of knowing if they are even alive?

I want people to imagine, to just try to put themselves in our shoes for even one second. Us Uyghurs are living out our worst fears and worst nightmares but unlike our nightmares, we do not know if and when we will ever be able to wake up from it.

I wish for people to be more proactive when it comes to the Uyghur genocide, and I hope they will start speaking out more.

I wish for people to take action against the CCP in any way that they can, whether it be something as simple as being a voice for the Uyghurs or helping to amplify the voices of the Uyghurs by using different social media platforms and also writing to our senators and Members of Parliament about what is happening.

People can also help by signing petitions or by helping to put an end to Uyghur forced labour fashion by boycotting those brands found complicit. There are so many things one can do to help the Uyghurs. Please don’t let our voices go unheard.

Mehray’s husband, Mirzat Taher, an Australian permanent resident, is currently being held in a prison in Urumqi, Xinjiang.

Mehray Mezensof is a registered nurse who lives in Melbourne, Australia.

The International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC), Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC), China Aid and supporting organizations are asking for your help to raise awareness of forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China and mobilize a global movement to end this transplant abuse.

Take the pledge: endtransplantabuse.org/pledge

Why does the world need Khalistan?

Dr Aslam Abdullah

Khalistan means the land of fully initiated Sikhs. Khalsa means ‘to be pure’ or ‘to be clear’ or ‘to be free from’ or ‘to be liberated.

Ninety-one percent of the world’s 27 million-plus Sikhs live in India, 77% live in Punjab, followed by 13% in Chandigarh, 6% in Haryana, 5% in Rajasthan, 3% in Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, and 2% in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Sikhs comprise 2% of India’s population, but their literacy rate is over 77%, and their representation in the Indian army is 26%.

A substantial number of Sikhs seek to create a homeland for their community, Khalistan. The proposed sovereign state would comprise Punjab and parts of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and several Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh districts.

With India marching towards a militant and violent Hindu Rashtra, the demand for Khalistan is gaining momentum.

Under a Hindu nationalist government, India would have to face a vibrant Sikh movement with support from Europe, North America, and Australia for a separate homeland for Khalsas.

Regardless of the relevance and feasibility of the demand, if any religious community deserves a separate state, it is the Sikh community.

The 26 million community has outpaced all other religious groups in its concern for humanitarian issues. During the last few decades, there has not been a single humanitarian crisis that the Sikh community did not respond to with its resources.

Christians generally expect the beneficiar-

The Queens Village group feeding people in 2020 at a Sunnyside protest in New York over the killing of George Floyd and other black Americans by the police.

ies of their social work to convert to their faith while Jews are primarily concerned about Jewish life. Hindus are interested in the welfare of their upper castes while Liberals come to the aid of only those who believe in their ideals.

Only the Sikh community has shown during the last few decades that it can rise above its interests and serve humanity as a whole.

Recently, the Sikh community has proven that their service to humanity is selfless and without any expectation. Its 24-hour food service through places of worship for strangers is unmatched.

It feeds more people in the world than most NGOs with huge budgets. Its free food services to the participants of the world parliament of religions is a testimony of its dedication to a plural world.

Imagine how much good this community would bring to the world if it had its own country. The community knows how to utilize its resources for the betterment of life, and through its own country, it can offer a new approach to strengthen the ideals of the unity of humanity.

While other religious communities have failed to live their ideals, the Sikh community has shown its commitment in actions to its core values.

They include love for all, selfless service, humility, compassion, equality, and justice.

During the last 100 years, no religious community acted in defense of human dignity, despite tall claims.

Muslims, with 56 majority countries, could not live their commitment to justice while ranting about Madinah or the Islamic state.

Christianity failed to distance itself from racism and white supremacy, and Judaism refused to see the humanity of Palestinians regardless of their faiths.

Through their organizations like VHP, RSS, and BJP in India, Hindus promoted a worldview built on hatred and violence.

The world awaits the emergence of a religious community that views humanity as one and proves through its action that its commitment to service is selfless.

During the recurring crisis the world has faced in the last few decades, the Sikh community has demonstrated its ability to take the lead and put its money where its mouth is.

The world needs to support Khalistan. If a Jewish state was possible to rehabilitate the persecuted followers of Moses in Palestine in 1947, a Sikh national state could also become a reality for a better world.

As a Muslim, I feel compelled to support Khalistan because my religious scripture reminds me to stand for good wherever I find it.

At present, the Sikh community has proven that it symbolizes good among all other religious groups as far as social morality is concerned.