On July 9, 2026, the European Values Center for Security Policy (EVC) Taiwan Office, together with Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Asia-Pacific Bureau and Circle 19, co-hosted the book talk A Stone Is Most Precious Where It Belongs: Uyghur Voices and China’s Transnational Repression at the Czech Hub in Taiwan.
The event featured Uyghur journalist and former Radio Free Asia reporter Gulchehra Hoja, journalist Filip Noubel, and Aleksandra Bielakowska, Asia-Pacific Advocacy Manager at RSF. In his opening remarks, Marcin Jerzewski, Head of EVC Taiwan Office, emphasized that discussions on human rights and accountability become most meaningful when connected to the experiences of those directly affected by authoritarian repression.
Drawing on her memoir, A Stone Is Most Precious Where It Belongs, Hoja reflected on her transition from a state television anchor to an independent journalist with Radio Freed Asia documenting human rights abuses in East Turkestan. She shared the personal consequences of her work, including the detention of 25 members of her family by the Chinese authorities, while stressing that freedom remains the most precious value and that continuing to document abuses is essential despite attempts to silence independent voices.
The discussion also examined China’s growing use of transnational repression against journalists and diaspora communities. RSF’s Bielakowska highlighted the broad range of tactics employed by Beijing, including intimidation, surveillance, and pressure on family members abroad, while warning that the closure of independent media outlets covering the region risks creating an information vacuum that authoritarian actors can exploit.
Throughout the discussion, speakers emphasized that the Uyghur community should not be viewed solely through the lens of persecution. Preserving Uyghur culture, language, and identity, alongside supporting independent journalism in Uyghur, remain essential tools of resisting authoritarian repression and ensuring that Uyghur voices continue to be heard.
The event concluded with an audience discussion on countering disinformation and supporting independent reporting on human rights in East Turkestan, reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in defending press freedom and fundamental rights.