Uyghur Community Protests Against China’s National Day in Istanbul
Despite bad weather, around 650 to 700 members of the exiled Uyghur community in Istanbul gathered outside the Chinese Consulate in the Sariyer district to protest. The demonstration took place on the 75th anniversary of China’s National Day and aimed to condemn China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.
The protest was led by Hidayet Oguzhan, President of the International Union of East Turkestan Organizations (IUETO), and received support from several non-governmental organizations advocating for Uyghur rights. Protesters held banners and chanted slogans calling for an end to the oppression of Uyghur Muslims and the closure of internment camps in Xinjiang, which China denies are sites of human rights abuses.
This protest is significant given the Turkish government’s increasingly close relations with China. Historically, Turkey has been a vocal supporter of Uyghur rights due to shared ethnic and religious ties. However, recent events such as familiarisation trips for Turkish journalists to Xinjiang and the launch of direct flights between Istanbul and Xinjiang indicate a softening stance.
Despite these diplomatic ties, the Uyghur community in Turkey remains outspoken against China’s policies in Xinjiang. Many members of this community have fled the region due to the Chinese government’s harsh crackdown, which includes mass detentions, forced labour, and the destruction of Uyghur cultural and religious sites.
Doubts Revealed
Uyghur -: Uyghurs are a group of people who mostly live in a region called Xinjiang in China. They have their own language and culture.
Diaspora -: Diaspora means people from a particular country or region who live outside their homeland. In this case, Uyghur people living in Istanbul, Turkey.
Istanbul -: Istanbul is a big city in Turkey, which is a country that is partly in Europe and partly in Asia.
Chinese Consulate -: A consulate is a place where officials from one country work in another country. The Chinese Consulate in Istanbul is where Chinese officials work in Turkey.
China’s National Day -: China’s National Day is a holiday in China that celebrates the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949.
Xinjiang -: Xinjiang is a region in the northwest part of China where many Uyghur people live.
Hidayet Oguzhan -: Hidayet Oguzhan is the President of the International Union of East Turkestan Organizations, a group that supports Uyghur people.
International Union of East Turkestan Organizations -: This is a group that works to help Uyghur people and raise awareness about their issues.
Internment camps -: Internment camps are places where people are kept against their will. Many Uyghurs are reportedly held in such camps in Xinjiang.
