The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) has clarified the circumstances surrounding the resignation of its Board Chair and co-founder Nury Turkel, originally announced on May 17, 2024.
In a statement issued on December 12, 2024, the UHRP retracted its May 17 statement, saying it “may have led to misunderstandings” about the reasons for Turkel’s departure. The organization emphasized that Turkel voluntarily resigned on May 15, 2024, so that UHRP could “continue its important work without distraction,” and stated that he “did not commit violence against women or engage in a pattern of sexually inappropriate conduct.”
“We thank Mr. Turkel for his more than a decade of volunteer service to UHRP and hope he continues his advocacy work for the Uyghur people,” the Board’s statement read.
On the same date, UHRP also issued a separate commendation recognizing Turkel’s decades of service and global human rights advocacy. The Board highlighted his central role in elevating the organization’s profile, strengthening its credibility, and advancing legislative and policy efforts to protect Uyghur rights. The statement noted his leadership in championing the Uyghur cause in international forums, his inclusion on TIME Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People, and his recognition among Fortune Magazine’s 50 Greatest Leaders.
Turkel, who was born in a Chinese “reeducation camp” during the Cultural Revolution and later granted asylum in the United States, has built a career as a U.S.-educated lawyer and global human rights advocate. He is the author of No Escape: The True Story of China’s Genocide of the Uyghurs, which documents human rights abuses in the Uyghur region, including forced labor, mass surveillance, and religious repression.
The UHRP’s updated statements replace the earlier version of the May 17 announcement, which has since been removed from its website. Other outlets that had reported on the original statement, including Radio Free Asia, have also removed their related coverage following the retraction.
Editor’s Note (December 2024): This article has been updated to reflect the December 12, 2024 retraction and clarification issued by the Uyghur Human Rights Project regarding the resignation of Nury Turkel.
