The East Turkestan Issue: A Human Tragedy from History to the Present

Day

I. Historical Background: The Path from Sovereignty to Occupation

East Turkestan’s past is rooted in a deep Turkish cultural heritage, stretching back to the

Hunnic Empire in 4th century B.C. States like the Karakhanids, the Uyghur Khaganates, and

the Kashgar Emirate ruled these lands, making the region a vibrant hub for both trade and

scholarship.

Positioned at the heart of the Silk Road, this area has historically been one of the most vital

cultural stops in the Turkic world.

China’s Quest for Dominance in the Region

Starting in the 18th century, China began increasing its influence over East Turkestan,

gradually shifting towards policies aimed at full control. Yet, the public’s desire for freedom

was never extinguished.

The most tangible example of this resistance was the Second East Turkestan Republic,

founded in 1944. The will of the people to determine their own destiny was briefly realized

through this republic.

The 1949 Occupation and the Imposition of the Name “Xinjiang”

With the occupation of the region by Communist China in 1949, the name “East Turkestan”

was banned and replaced with the phrase “Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.”

The Beijing administration viewed these lands as an integral part of its national security,

branding the Turkic identity and cultural presence in the region as a "threat to national unity."

This very approach has formed the ideological foundation for the current oppression.

II. Policies of Suppression and Human Rights Violations

Concentration Camps: Atrocities Under the Guise of “Re-education”

Since 2017, using the pretext of “fighting terrorism,” the Chinese government has detained

millions of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Turkic/Muslim minorities in concentration camps.

In these camps, officially called “re-education centers,” people are forcibly made to abandon

their religious and cultural identities, subjected to forced labor, and exposed to psychological

pressure.

Cultural Genocide and the Silencing of Intellectuals

The Uyghur language, religion, and traditions are systematically targeted.

 

Mosques are being demolished, and religious leaders and academics are being arrested.

According to the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP), over 300 academics and

intellectuals have been arrested since 2017.

This situation represents an effort to silence not just a people, but an entire culture.

Demographic Intervention

While intensely promoting the settlement of Han Chinese in the region, China is also

implementing policies of forced sterilization and abortion targeting Uyghur women.

Through these methods, the region’s demographic balance is being altered, and the growth of

the Uyghur population is being suppressed. Many international organizations openly define

this situation as “genocide.”

Digital Surveillance and Suppression

Today, East Turkestan has been transformed into an open-air prison with facial recognition

systems and police checkpoints on every corner.

People are constantly monitored, and fundamental rights and freedoms of thought and belief

have been almost entirely abolished.

III. The International Dimension: Human Rights vs. Economic Interest?

China’s Strategic Calculations

For China, the Xinjiang region is not merely a territory; it is a key center due to its energy

resources and its pivotal role in the “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) project.

The Beijing administration suppresses the demands of the Uyghur people with accusations of

“separatism” and “terrorism” to safeguard these strategic interests.

The Western World’s Reaction

The US and European countries have condemned the events as “crimes against humanity” and

imposed various sanctions on China.

However, China's massive economic power and its veto power in the UN Security Council

significantly limit the impact of these sanctions. The United Nations struggles to take concrete

action beyond issuing condemnation messages due to this structural problem.

Turkey’s Balancing Act

For Turkey, the East Turkestan issue is not just a human rights problem, but also a matter of

national security and conscience.

Ensuring the safety of the Uyghur diaspora who have sought refuge in Turkey and resisting

China’s diplomatic pressures on this matter are directly related to our nation's honor.

 

However, the necessity of defending the rights of a Turkic and Muslim community puts

Ankara in a delicate balancing act with its developing economic relations with China. Turkey

faces the difficult task of managing this balance while upholding both the bond of kinship and

its national interests.

Conclusion

The East Turkestan issue is one of the most shameful chapters in human history.

While a people's language, religion, and identity are systematically being destroyed, the world

remains largely silent.

This silence opens a deep wound not only in the conscience of the Uyghurs but in the

conscience of humanity itself.

Achieving true justice will only be possible not just through international diplomacy, but

through each of us acknowledging and speaking out about this reality.