Mehmet Tohti

Executive Director, Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project • Co-founder, World Uyghur Congress • Human Rights and Policy Advocate

About Mehmet Tohti

Mehmet Tohti is one of the most prominent Uyghur human rights advocates in the world and a leading voice for justice in Canada. Born in Kashgar, East Turkistan (Xinjiang, China), he taught biology at Kashgar University before leaving his homeland due to intensifying repression of Uyghurs.

Now based in Ottawa, he serves as Executive Director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP), where he leads national policy engagement, public education, and survivor support initiatives for Uyghur Canadians.

Global Advocacy and Leadership

Co-founder of the World Uyghur Congress and former two-term Vice-President, where he helped build a transnational network advancing Uyghur self-determination and human rights.
Successfully lobbied Canada’s Parliament to recognize China’s atrocities as genocide, leading to the landmark February 2021 House of Commons motion.
Instrumental in pushing for supply chain accountability and forced-labour legislation in Canada to combat Uyghur forced labour in global markets.
Regularly briefs Canadian parliamentarians, international NGOs, UN mechanisms, and human rights commissions on genocide prevention, mass detention, and transnational repression.

Personal Courage and Stakes

Mehmet Tohti’s advocacy is deeply personal. He has not had any contact with his mother or several family members since October 23, 2016, after they disappeared in Xinjiang’s mass detention campaign.

“Since October 23, 2016, no phone, no message… nothing.”
— Global News interview (globalnews.ca)

Despite ongoing threats and harassment in Canada linked to foreign state intimidation campaigns, he has continued to speak publicly, stating that silence is not an option when lives are at stake.

Recognition and Awards

In March 2025, he received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his “outstanding advocacy in defense of Uyghur human rights.”
Frequently cited by major Canadian and international outlets, including Global News, CBC, BBC, Al Jazeera, and The Globe and Mail.
Featured by Voices in Exile as one of the leading voices of persecuted communities building new lives in Canada.

Why He’s a Powerful Speaker

Lived experience and moral clarity: As a survivor of exile and ongoing family loss, he brings unmatched authenticity and urgency.
Policy influence and expertise: His track record of shaping national legislation and political discourse makes him ideal for policy, legal, and governance audiences.
International credibility: Recognized globally and quoted by major media, he speaks with both emotional weight and strategic insight.
Fearless voice: He exemplifies resilience, speaking out despite risks, and inspires others to move from empathy to action.