<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A U.N. whistleblower has accused former U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay, who was announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize on October 9, 2026, of ignoring and being "complicit in the Uyghur genocide."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Following Pillay's selection for the award, criticisms emerged regarding her focus on Israel and her claims that the country is committing genocide in Gaza, as well as allegations of selective human rights prosecutions.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Emma Reilly, a former U.N. human rights officer, criticized Pillay's award, stating that she is responsible for the U.N.'s inaction toward China and its treatment of the Uyghur minority. Reilly claimed that under Pillay's leadership, the U.N. human rights commission provided a list of Uyghur dissidents and their families to Chinese authorities.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">"Unfortunately, the winner is an absolute disgrace," Reilly stated, as reported by UN Watch, adding that Pillay was "quite literally complicit in the Uyghur genocide." </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Reilly further claimed that if Pillay did not have diplomatic immunity, three victims would have sued her. She noted that Pillay was in charge when she first reported the U.N. handing names of dissidents to China, and that Pillay's response was dismissive.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to Reilly, Pillay oversaw the transmission of names of over 50 Uyghur dissidents to China, which endangered them and their families.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Reilly stated, "Families of the dissidents testified in court about being intimidated, arbitrarily detained, tortured, disappeared, and even killed in concentration camps. This is an absolute travesty of ‘peace.’ All staffers [of Pillay] who directly handed over names were promoted … I was fired for speaking up."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Nobel committee awarded Pillay the prize for her role in "significantly enlarging the scope and impact of international law."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Pillay, a South African of Tamil descent, was the first nonwhite person appointed to South Africa’s High Court and has held several significant positions in international law, including U.N. high commissioner for human rights. Her notable work includes chairing the U.N.’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which ruled in September 2025 that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Supporters of Israel criticized Pillay following her award announcement and the whistleblower allegations. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo referred to Pillay as "one of the leading purveyors of the modern-day blood libel."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Pompeo stated, "How telling that the Nobel committee should honor one of the leading purveyors of the modern-day blood libel the same week that the UN admitted UNRWA workers participated in the October 7 pogrom."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Critics have contrasted Pillay's strong stance against Israel with her perceived leniency towards China, highlighting a lack of action regarding the treatment of the Uyghur minority.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, stated, "The Nobel committee owes an explanation to the dissidents whose names were handed to China. Emma Reilly has raised devastating allegations of complicity in genocide against the woman they have chosen to honor. Where was the scrutiny? Where was the concern for the victims and their families?"</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Neuer also noted that Pillay did not attend the 2010 ceremony to award Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo the Nobel Peace Prize.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Neuer remarked, "Pillay’s failure to confront powerful dictatorships was a pattern. Our study found silence on abuses in 34 countries rated ‘Not Free,’ including Cuba, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. When Iran’s regime beat and arrested protesters in 2009, she took three months to comment. Victims needed a champion willing to challenge their oppressors."</p>