Uyghur group urges Rubio to raise China's repression during Uzbekistan visit

Washington, Oct 17 (UNI) The World Uyghur Congress has urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to raise concerns about China's alleged transnational repression of Uyghurs during his planned visit to Uzbekistan next week. The organisation said Uyghurs in Central Asia faced surveillance, intimidation, arbitrary detention and the risk of being forcibly returned to China, where they could face persecution. Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, have provided refuge to Uyghurs fleeing China's Xinjiang region but have also faced pressure from Beijing to curb Uyghur political, cultural and religious activities, the group said. The World Uyghur Congress…