On March 11, an event celebrating Muslim Heritage Month in the UK, sponsored by TikTok, faces backlash from Uyghur activists. Organised by Muslim Women’s Network UK, the invitation highlights the aim to unite interfaith organisations, content creators, and parliamentarians to honour the cultural contributions of Muslims in Britain. Yet, Uyghur rights advocates express concern over TikTok’s record on censoring content that discusses human rights abuses in China against Uyghurs.
Activist Nefise Oguz, a student from Istanbul University, voiced her thoughts on this partnership, stating, “I do not believe the Muslim Women’s Network UK supports violence and genocide, but its cooperation with TikTok sends a deeply troubling message.” She uses platforms like TikTok to advocate for her relatives imprisoned in China. Oguz accuses TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, of systematically censoring Uyghur-related content across both TikTok and Douyin, TikTok’s Chinese counterpart.
In her advocacy, Oguz has faced numerous restrictions, including an inability to contact her detained uncle, Alim Abdulkerim, through Douyin. Despite creating viral TikTok videos aimed at raising awareness over his situation, censorship has hindered her reach. Reports from the United Nations Human Rights Council have labelled her uncle’s detention as arbitrary, prompting further calls for his release. However, Oguz’s efforts to share these findings via TikTok resulted in video removals, leaving her disheartened and questioning the platform’s censorship habits.
TikTok’s Communications team, represented by Nicholas Smith, refuted claims of censorship, stating, “It’s inaccurate to suggest that TikTok censors content related to the alleged Uyghur genocide.” He asserted that users can find many videos on TikTok discussing Uyghurs freely, inviting scrutiny of platform policies through their Community Guidelines and Transparency Center.
The U.S. and UN’s condemnations of China’s treatment of Uyghurs highlight ongoing concerns, with allegations of genocide stemming from actions such as mass detentions and forced labour. Reports have indicated that such human rights violations in Xinjiang might constitute crimes against humanity, as China continues to defend its policies as necessary counter-terrorism measures. Yet, a report by the Network Contagion Research Institute suggests TikTok actively suppresses sensitive political content, including that of the Uyghur community.
Rizwangul NurMuhammad, a Uyghur scholar, recommended that Muslim Women’s Network UK reconsider its partnership with TikTok, cautioning it could further marginalise Uyghurs. In correspondence with the network’s chief executive Shaista Gohir, she expressed concern over TikTok’s alignment with Chinese government interests, stating, “By focusing solely on amplifying selected voices while excluding those of Uyghurs, the Network risks further marginalizing an already vulnerable community.”
In response, Gohir acknowledged the hardships faced by Uyghurs, asserting that the partnership with TikTok provides a platform for the stories and experiences of marginalized Muslims. She argued that Muslim Heritage Month aims to foster engagement and visibility. Gohir suggested the event could generate vital conversations on freedom of expression for Muslim communities worldwide.
The sponsorship of a UK Muslim Heritage Month event by TikTok has drawn criticism from Uyghur activists over censorship claims regarding human rights abuses against Uyghurs in China. Activist Nefise Oguz highlights concerns of censorship while TikTok denies these allegations. The U.S. and UN have condemned China’s treatment of Uyghurs, and activists call for the ethical reconsideration of partnerships with TikTok.
The event commemorating Muslim Heritage Month, sponsored by TikTok, has ignited criticism from Uyghur activists who accuse the platform of censoring vital discussions surrounding human rights abuses. While Muslim Women’s Network UK defends the partnership as an opportunity for visibility and engagement, concerns persist about the potential marginalisation of the Uyghur community. The discourse surrounding TikTok’s censorship practices and its implications for advocacy remain critically important as such conversations unfold in broader social contexts.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
