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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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Embargoed until
00:01, 14 March 2009

PRESS RELEASE: UK/China – ‘Uighurs: China’s forgotten Muslims’ – An exhibition of photos by Per Engström

Launch / Press Night: 14 March from 5.45pm – 8pm
London exhibition dates 15 – 18 March 2009

Organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission and sponsored by Federation of Students’ Islamic Societies (FOSIS) and the UK Uighur Association (UUA)

The photo exhibition is aimed at building public awareness for the Uighur community in China as well as highlighting the injustices and human rights abuses they suffer. The photographs to be on display are from Swedish photographer Per Engström’s recent visits to the region.

The evening includes presentations from Per Engström
himself, as well as journalist and photographer Angelos Rallis, Kaiser Abdulrusul OzHun from the Pen Uyghur Centre and Enver Tohti Bughda, the whistleblower on China’s nuclear testing in the Xinjiang region.

Speakers include:
Per Engström, Journalist and Photographer
Enver Tohti Bughda, UK Uighur Association
Kaiser Abdurusul ÖzHun, President of International Pen Uyghur Centre and Researcher of Silk Road Art in Sotheby’s Art Institute London
Angelos Rallis, Journalist and Photographer

Speaking on behalf of IHRC, campaign officer Aaron Varicchio said:

“This is an important event highlighting and marking the plight and persecution of the Uighur Muslims in China whose circumstances and lives have largely gone unnoticed. This community has borne the brunt of many exclusionary and systematic practices conducted and treated in a manner that falls below human rights standards.

“The aim of this event is to encourage more people to become involved in campaigning for justice for the Uighur Muslims to urge the Chinese government to treat them with dignity and equally as citizens of China. We hope that by holding this photo exhibition in honor of the Uighurs we would be introducing them to those individuals who are unaware that this community exists.”

Venue: Abrar House, 45 Crawford Place , London , W1H 4LP
Launch date / Press Night: 14 March 2009 (main dates London 15 – 18 March)
Time: 6.00pm – 9.00pm (including traditional Uighur food and music)

Nearest Tube Station: Edgware Road (Bakerloo Line) and Marble Arch (Central Line)

Map linkhttp://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=abrar+house+london&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=uk&ei=cP-eSfnJM-LBjAfpjJnuCw&z=16&iwloc=addr

Press Night details:
Press must register in advance to attend by contacting the IHRC Events Officer on (+44) 7782 403002 (meherun@ihrc.org).

To arrange interviews:
Please contact the Press Officer on (+44) 20 8904 4222or (44) 7958 607475. Phone and video interviews available from 13 March with all speakers and IHRC spokespeople[ENDS]
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The Islamic Human Rights Commission is an NGO in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org.uk