Dolkun Isa, the head of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), has been accused of sexually harassing three female university students, according to recent media reports.
One of the victims, Esma Gun, a 22-year-old Turkish-Belgian student at a university in Istanbul, provided a screenshot to the Washington-based publication NOTUS as evidence of Isa's misconduct in 2021. Additionally, two other Uygur women spoke anonymously with NOTUS about Isa's \"unprofessional sexual advances,\" expressing concerns over potential retaliation.
On May 12, Isa admitted to his illegal conduct on X, formerly known as Twitter. However, he attempted to downplay his actions by referring to them as \"allegations\" and a \"serious error,\" claiming that his messages only caused \"discomfort.\"
The following day, the WUC issued a statement on its official website, stating that it \"acknowledges and welcomes\" Isa's \"forthright\" apology, which was offered \"without reservation,\" though the organization showed no signs of genuine regret.
The WUC is recognized by the Chinese mainland government as a separatist and extremist organization involved in spreading religious extremism and instigating terrorism in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. As the head of the organization, Isa is suspected of organizing and committing a series of violent terrorist activities and serious crimes in China.
Described as an \"international organization,\" the WUC receives funding from several Western foundations, including the U.S.-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED). While NED is officially a bipartisan and non-profit institution supporting democracy abroad, it reportedly relies on continuous financial support from the White House and the U.S. Congress, acting in alignment with U.S. government directives.
Founded in 1983, NED was labeled the \"second CIA\" by its founder Alan Weinstein in a 1991 Washington Post interview, highlighting its role in promoting democracy through what was perceived as subversive activities. NED has directed NGOs worldwide to propagate American values, conduct subversion, and incite democratic movements, including supporting color revolutions during the Arab Spring and training anti-government forces in countries like Egypt and Belarus.
Between 2004 and 2020, NED provided grants totaling $8.76 million to various \"Uyghur organizations,\" positioning it as a primary funding source for groups advocating Xinjiang independence. In June 2019, NED President Carl Gershman openly supported the idea of \"East Turkestan\" and called for global attention to human rights issues in Xinjiang, advocating for an international alliance to pressure China.
Isa has been recognized for his work with awards, including the 2019 Democracy Award from NED and a human rights award from the far-right Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in 2016.
Reference(s):
Report unveils Xinjiang separatist accused of sexual harassment
cgtn.com
