Voice of the Jewish News: We’ve spoken, now we must act over Uyghurs
This week's editorial reflects on this newspaper's campaign to put pressure on the Chinese government over its treatment of Uyghurs Muslims
When Jewish News ran a front page earlier this year with the headline ‘Chilling echoes’ – in reference to the abuse of the Uyghurs and parallels with the Shoah – we didn’t do so lightly. Any hint of a parallel with the darkest chapter in human history is something we’d always caution against. But the discovery of tonnes of hair taken from members of the minority community in China invoked emotions we as Jews simply could not ignore. Our unflinching intervention sparked the community to talk widely – and act – in a way it hadn’t before, with letters, opinion pieces in national newspapers and awareness-raising events.
We hope our campaign enlisting the support of some 150 MPs and peers, calling on the government to turn up the pressure on China to halt its horrific actions, will spur yet more action in the corridors of power. While our proactive stance has been praised, the truth is that we should have spoken out sooner.
We, more than most, know where persecution can lead. Reports about the horrors visited on the Uyghurs in China have long mounted: a million people are thought to have been detained and sterilisation and forced labour is commonplace. China can protest all it wants that these camps are for nothing more than “vocational” training but the world will not be fooled.
The British government has already accused China of “gross human rights abuses”. Now is the time to follow words with strong action. If your MP does not feature on the list of signatories on page two of this week’s newspaper, we urge you to contact them to add their name to a growing and influential list.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
