Washington, DC [US] January 17 : The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) is ramping up its global advocacy efforts. Their award-winning documentary "Eyes of the Machine" is shedding light on China's mistreatment of Uyghurs, reinforcing global attention on China's policies in East Turkistan.
The documentary "Eyes of the Machine," directed by Dutch filmmaker Daya Cahen, is a key component of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) 's current global advocacy efforts to expose human rights violations in East Turkistan.
The film contrasts the haunting personal testimony of Kalbinur Sidik, an ethnic Uzbek survivor who was forced to work in Chinese internment camps, against official state propaganda, exposing the scale and mechanics of China's mass surveillance and detention system.
Completed in August 2025, the 76-minute feature utilises leaked police photographs, intercepted messages, and open-source data to illustrate China's pervasive surveillance and detention system.
After receiving a strong public response during extended screenings in Amsterdam and winning acclaim at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, the documentary is now set to compete at film festivals in Geneva and Prague in 2026, with 10-day screenings planned in both cities. Organisers say the film remains crucial in countering China's denial and disinformation surrounding crimes against Uyghurs.
Screenings are scheduled in Geneva (March 6-15, 2026) at the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH) and Prague (Q1 2026), plus an ongoing Amsterdam exhibit at the Eye Filmmuseum through March 15, 2026.
The film premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in November 2025 and has been nominated for prestigious awards, including the Golden Bear for Short Film in previous developmental stages.
In Istanbul, the WUC and partner organisations held a ceremony honouring senior advisor Dr Erkin Ekrem for his decades of scholarly and political contribution to the Uyghur cause. WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun described Dr Ekrem as a central figure in shaping the intellectual and strategic foundations of the East Turkistan movement, while former WUC president Dolkun Isa praised his lifelong dedication in a recorded message.
The WUC also expanded its European outreach, with a delegation led by Alawdun holding consultations with Turkish civil society organisations in Cologne, Mannheim and Frankfurt. Discussions focused on China's propaganda campaigns, the worsening human rights situation in East Turkistan, and the importance of sustained diaspora-led advocacy to prevent the issue from being sidelined internationally.
In the United States, WUC Executive Committee Chairwoman Rushan Abbas and delegates met scholars at the Hoover Institution, stressing that China's repression of Uyghurs has far-reaching global implications. Abbas also joined democracy leaders in Washington to examine how authoritarian regimes undermine freedoms worldwide.
Finally, at an international consultation in Oslo on combating religious intolerance, WUC Vice President Zumretay Arkin highlighted state-led Islamophobia targeting Uyghurs, urging governments to move beyond statements and take concrete action against China's abuses.