Rep. Ken Buck Sends Letter to Marriott International CEO Criticizing Hotel's Refusal to Host World Uyghur Congress

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Buck (CO-04) sent a letter to Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano on Friday, expressing his reservations and concerns regarding the company's decision to refuse service to the World Uyghur Congress -- whose mission is to fight perpetual persecution carried out by the Chinese Communist Party.

"Under the guise of 'political neutrality,' the Prague Marriott Hotel became an extension of the intense persecution against Uyghurs perpetuated by the Chinese government," the Congressman stated. "By shuttering its doors to the WUC, the hotel affiliated itself with the Chinese government's policies toward the Uyghur people."

Buck went on to described the mission of the WUC and how it has garnered a positive reputation and international respect, by working diligently to secure human rights and personal freedoms for various groups and individuals worldwide.

"The World Uyghur Congress is the most prominent and well-respected group of Uyghur leaders dispersed around the world," the Colorado Republican continued. "According to the WUC's mission statement, it was founded in 2004 to 'promote democracy, human rights and freedom for the Uyghur people and use peaceful, nonviolent, and democratic means to determine their political future.'"

He then expressed deep concerns about the hotel giant turning away those fleeing and fighting against genocide, in an effort to publicly appease the CCP.

"In mid-November 2021, the WUC held their annual meeting in Prague," Buck wrote. "The Uyghur people, alongside other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, face extermination in China through a policy of genocide, yet your company found it untenable to permit the WUC to gather in your company's facilities to advocate for their continued existence as a people in the face of extreme persecution, genocide, and crimes against humanity implemented against them in China."

This isn't the first time Marriott has been accused of bowing to Chinese government pressure.

Marriott issued an apology to China in 2018 for listing Taiwan, Macau, Tibet, and Hong Kong as independent countries instead of as Chinese territories. The statement at the time read, "We do not support separatist groups that subvert the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China."

Buck closed the letter by claiming this past kowtowing in 2018 likely helped set the stage for Marriott's rejection of the WUC last month. He also requested the company clarify its position to avoid any further ambiguity in the future and to tell the public if the CCP reached out to them, in an effort to interfere for political reasons.

"Because of the precedent set by Marriott International to acquiesce to the Chinese Communist Party's demands, the hotel management in Prague could have rationally contrived its decision was necessary to comply with this functional policy," Buck wrote.

He added, "I request that you publicly clarify your company's policy toward accommodating individuals, entities, or groups who disagree with the Chinese government... [and] I urge you to publicly disclose whether your company was contacted by the Chinese government or its officials in opposition to the WUC's request to meet at the Prague Marriott Hotel."

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