Rebiya Kadeer Finds Support at Melbourne Film Festival

Rebiya Kadeer is the head of the World Uighur Congress. For years, shes been calling for freedom, equality and justice for her people, the ethnic Uighurs of Chinas Xinjiang region. They're a people who got international attention after violent protests there last month, left hundreds dead.

The Chinese regime says she was the so-called mastermind behind the protests and labels her a terrorist. Shes now in Melbourne, Australia for the screening of an independent film about her life, called The 10 Conditions of Love.

The Chinese regime had tried to pressure the Melbourne Film Festival not to show the film, but they refused. So the regime tried to pressure the Australian government to deny her a visa. They, too, refused, saying shes not a terrorist and poses no threat.

[Richard Moore, Director, Melbourne Intl Film Festival]:
Weve never seen such an enormous reaction to a film as this one, and its had geopolitical connotations.

The controversy surrounding the screening was in fact a boom for the films popularity, creating an overwhelming demand for tickets.

[Jeff Daniels, 10 Conditions Filmmaker]:
While trying to silence my film I think the Chinese government has unintentionally brought it publicity that I could never afford as an independent filmmaker.

So many people wanted to see it that they had to move it to a larger venue. Whilst in Australia, the Uighur leader says the Chinese regime pressured her family members in Xinjiang, to appear on TV and condemn her.

[Rebiya Kadeer, Uighur Activist]:
The Chinese Government is trying to silence my voice by forcing my family and children to speak up against me. Its hard to imagine what kind of psychological torture they are going through at the moment.

But shes been getting lots of support from people outside of China. During the Film Festival here in Melbourne, she signs copies of her autobiography, Dragon Fighter.

[Rebiya Kadeer, Uighur Activist]:
The reason Ive come to the film festival is that Im very proud that the film about me is made by the filmmaker sitting next to me. Its my debut screen, so Im very proud for that fact. So thats the reason Im coming to attend the film festival.

Source: Robert Apicella, NTD, Melbourne