Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), the ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), was recently recognized by the Uyghur Academy for his dedication to promoting human rights and justice for the Uyghur people. 

The award has highlighted his efforts in standing against the Chinese government’s persecution of this minority group, including widespread reports of forced labor and cultural erasure. In his acceptance speech, Krishnamoorthi repeated his promise to keep pressing for the rights and freedom of the Uyghur people. 

“The people of Uyghur endure the unimaginable oppression at the hands of CCP’s immeasurable force in their resilience,” he says, pledging solidarity for Uyghur-Americans as he vows to carry forward his struggle for justice  Krishnamoorthi has been a prominent contributor to legislation on China human rights violations, with great work through the Select Committee.

Recently, the committee made a request to the Department of Homeland Security to bolster the implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act that prohibits imports that are created using forced labor. He and committee Chair Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-WI has made recommendations on expanding enforcement that would stretch to businesses abroad that stand to indirectly profit from forced labor among the Uyghurs. 

In particular, the award from Uyghur Academy recognizes other broad contributions from organizations like World Uyghur Congress and Uyghur American Association. 

These organizations have served to expose CCP human rights abuses, which include mass detentions, surveillance programs, and forced assimilation programs targeting the Uyghur community in Xinjiang. The move highlights bipartisan support for pushing human rights issues in the U.S.-China relations. As lawmakers like Krishnamoorthi say, about one million Uyghurs are reportedly subject to forced labor or detention, prompting calls for a stronger international response to the abuses.

Krishnamoorthi’s efforts reflect a broader push in Congress to hold the Chinese government accountable for its actions while ensuring that U.S. policies prioritize human rights in global trade and diplomacy. 

Source: diyatvusa.com