PolSoc was lucky to have Rahima Mahmut speak to us about the plight of the Uyghur community. Rahima, a prominent voice in human rights activism, was able to give the students a fascinating insight into the situation. As a Uyghur Muslim herself, Rahima moved to the UK in 2000 from Xinjiang Province, an Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, and her family members are among the hundreds of thousands with an unknown fate.
Rahima explained the history of the Uyghurs, including the impact of the Cultural Revolution of 1976 and the Tiananmen Square protest in 1989, where Uyghurs protested discrimination in all aspects of their daily lives.
The students also received some insightful advice on what they can do to help and which organisations provide support, as well as emphasising the need for education and a spread of awareness.
With many thanks to Rahima for coming to speak to us on this vitally important topic.
