Rizwana Ilham

Rizwana is born in Urumqi, Eastturkestan, she’s been an activist since the tender age of 12. Currently, she proudly serves as the president of the Uyghur Association in Switzerland and is an active member of the World Uyghur Congress. Her educational journey took her through the realms of economics and languages, and later led her to advocate for human rights. She comes from a lineage of brave souls: her grandfather, a historian, was among the pioneering scholars resisting the regime, and her mother led students during the impactful 1989 demonstration. This has instilled in her an unwavering commitment to freedom and rights from a young age. When she’s not engaged in activism, she volunteers at the Red Cross in Zürich, aiding young refugees in their integration journey and teaching them German. Additionally, she runs a trust company and offers support to the Uyghur diaspora and other refugees in Switzerland with their paperwork.