Help Atajurt keep going
Donation protected
The Atajurt Kazakh Human Rights organization is a group in Kazakhstan that has, using a grassroots model, done an enormous amount of work in documenting the crimes against humanity in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region. In addition to travelling around the country and teaching average Kazakh people how to file appeals and campaign for the freedom of their relatives in China, the group has also done local volunteer projects, done thousands of video interviews, and helped host countless international journalists who have come to Almaty, Kazakhstan to cover the Xinjiang issue.
Following on-and-off pressure from the government authorities, the group took a very heavy blow in the March of 2019, when its leader, Serikjan Bilash, was arrested on highly dubious charges and the office was closed. Though resuming work two weeks later, the group has not been the same since, with many people fearing to come to the office to record public testimonies. Furthermore, without Serikjan’s leadership and oratory skills – in addition to the fear created by his arrest – it has become difficult for the group to fundraise, which has served to further reduce the number of people coming to the office (in the past, Atajurt would often compensate these people for their time and at least pay for their transport, as some reside outside Almaty).
While not seeking to cover all of the group’s operating costs, this fundraiser sets as its goal to cover most (70-80%) of Atajurt’s office rent and aims for about $500/month (mark set slightly higher to account for fees). This is necessary as the lease on the current office is essentially up and as this represents a fundamental cost, without which the group will simply have to shutter up. Though not as vibrant and full of life as it once was, the office still represents an important go-to hub for those with relatives detained in Xinjiang, still receives visitors almost daily, and still is fighting to recover.
The amount is not great but will serve to keep things running. Please help if you can!
Sincerely,
Gene A. Bunin (curator of shahit.biz, independent scholar)
Mehmet Volkan Kaşıkçı (Atajurt volunteer, historian)
Following on-and-off pressure from the government authorities, the group took a very heavy blow in the March of 2019, when its leader, Serikjan Bilash, was arrested on highly dubious charges and the office was closed. Though resuming work two weeks later, the group has not been the same since, with many people fearing to come to the office to record public testimonies. Furthermore, without Serikjan’s leadership and oratory skills – in addition to the fear created by his arrest – it has become difficult for the group to fundraise, which has served to further reduce the number of people coming to the office (in the past, Atajurt would often compensate these people for their time and at least pay for their transport, as some reside outside Almaty).
While not seeking to cover all of the group’s operating costs, this fundraiser sets as its goal to cover most (70-80%) of Atajurt’s office rent and aims for about $500/month (mark set slightly higher to account for fees). This is necessary as the lease on the current office is essentially up and as this represents a fundamental cost, without which the group will simply have to shutter up. Though not as vibrant and full of life as it once was, the office still represents an important go-to hub for those with relatives detained in Xinjiang, still receives visitors almost daily, and still is fighting to recover.
The amount is not great but will serve to keep things running. Please help if you can!
Sincerely,
Gene A. Bunin (curator of shahit.biz, independent scholar)
Mehmet Volkan Kaşıkçı (Atajurt volunteer, historian)
Co-organizers (2)
Gene Bunin
Organizer
Ashland, MA
Mehmet Volkan Kasikci
Co-organizer