The 16th World East Turkistan Brotherhood Meeting and the 7th National Unity Council Have Started

7th International Council of National Unity of East Turkistan and the 16th World East Turkistan Brotherhood Meeting, hosted by the International East Turkistan NGOs Union, began in Istanbul with a “welcome” reception for the participants on the evening of October 4, 2024.

The 7th National Unity Council and 16th World East Turkistan Brotherhood Meeting, which took place at around 09:30 on October 5, continued with an official opening ceremony with the participation of Uyghur diaspora leaders from more than 30 countries, primarily Turkey, intellectuals defending the East Turkistan cause, statesmen, parliamentarians, academics, representatives of various civil society organizations, and the Arab Islamic world.

OPENING CEREMONY STARTED WITH QURAN RECITAL

The ceremony began with Quran recitation by Qurra Hafiz Mr. Muhammed Emin Qari after the national anthems of Turkey and East Turkistan were recited. The opening speech was made by the East Turkistan Education and Solidarity Association, and also the President of the International East Turkistan NGOs Union, Mr. Hidayetullah Oğuzhan, who called for the cessation of the inhumane oppressions against the oppressed in East Turkistan, especially in Al-Aqsa Mosque, Gaza, Arakan, Myanmar, Syria, and other Islamic lands, and expressed his gratitude to all the mujahideen who do not accept the Chinese occupation in East Turkistan.

GLOBAL CRISIS AND EAST TURKISTAN’S INDEPENDENCE

Mr. Oğuzhan, “My fellow citizens from all over the world, the unyielding supporters of the East Turkistan cause, valuable members of parliament, state representatives, scholars, academics, and journalists; I would like to express my gratitude for your presence at the 16th World East Turkistan Brotherhood Meeting and the 7th East Turkistan National Unity Council.

Today, I would like to begin my remarks here with a call for all wars, chaos and deaths in the region we are in to end as soon as possible, for a permanent ceasefire to be declared and for crimes against humanity to be stopped. Crimes against humanity in Palestine must be stopped immediately, a ceasefire must be declared; the life safety of the Lebanese people must be ensured and a safe, permanent and stable environment must be established in the Middle East. These wishes are also my call to remind the world of its responsibility towards justice and peace. I think I share the same opinion as all the attendees on this issue and I would like to start my speech by once again expressing my gratitude to everyone.

East Turkistan is a nation that was harassed by China's military intervention in 1948, lost its sovereignty, and was officially occupied in 1949. China is a cruel, occupying, and expansionist state that has committed massacres, genocides, and all kinds of oppression in East Turkistan, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Hong Kong, and other lands, including its own people, since its foundation in 1949. East Turkistan, as a cradle of science that has spread peace and justice, civilization, and development in the region throughout its thousands of years of history, is today under occupation, but its people have been advocates of peace, international justice, human rights, honor, and trust worldwide and contribute to the development of the world. China, on the other hand, has not refrained from shedding blood throughout history and continues its regional and global expansionism under the names of the "New Silk Road", "Chinese Dream," and "One Belt, One Road Initiative," harassing the borders of countries in the region, taking over them with debt traps and sabotaging their national interests.

This speech of mine, in addition to being a welcome message to all our guests, is to bring to your attention the importance of the important sessions, workshops, negotiations, and meetings of today and the next two days. Most importantly, it is to explain to you what the East Turkistan cause means to the world, that the East Turkistan people have the sole say in determining their own destiny and the unchanging principles of this cause.

East Turkistan Cause: It is the struggle of 35 million people who are not of the Chinese race, who have been occupied by China in the east of Central Asia, covering an area of ​​1,828,418 km², who have been deprived of all political rights, who have been subjected to systematic assimilation and genocide for 76 years, and who are in no way of Chinese race, to stop the genocide, to regain their rights and laws and to establish their independent state. The East Turkistan cause is a struggle based on justice, international law, universal human rights and values, progressing on a legitimacy and legal basis, and advocating peace and freedom. The East Turkistan cause is a religious responsibility of Muslims as it is a struggle to save an oppressed Muslim society; It is also a common problem of the Turkic world because it is a struggle to free Turkish lands from captivity. Most importantly, since genocide, occupation, and oppression prevail, this crisis in which justice and human dignity are violated is a matter of existence for all of humanity. These are the unchanging basic lines of the East Turkistan cause.

As the East Turkistan people and as a political movement that aims to represent the East Turkistan people in the international arena, we are aware that each of the above-mentioned issues is full of difficulties, and we are aware that our enemy is strong, cunning, ruthless, and savage. At the same time, we also have the valuable experiences that all the steps taken by our pioneers of the cause in the 76-year resistance struggle have given us. We started on this path by sacrificing our lives, property, and all of our lives, and we are determined and resolute travelers of this path, always remembering those we have lost and anticipating those we will lose. Yes, after clarifying our will in this way, I would like to express with a more realistic approach that the East Turkistan cause is aimed at the goal of independence; It is an ongoing case with projects and programs based on the concepts of practical solutions, realism, strategic planning, periodic goals, stability in principle, and diversity in style. Today and tomorrow, we will talk about the status, factors, opportunities, and future of this difficult case with you, our valued guests, We will make plans and announce our decisions to the world.

Although everyone agrees that the tragedy in Palestine should be stopped as soon as possible today, despite all efforts, good intentions, and initiatives, the countries of the world and the so-called justice system are inadequate to stop this tragedy, and the war is spreading further. When we look at the East Turkistan issue from the same perspective, the 76-year occupation and the last 10 years of brutal genocide continue without deterrent interventions; people are losing their lives, and international justice and humanity are losing their sensitivity and value. All countries that advocate peace, justice, freedom, and human dignity should look at the East Turkistan issue from a long-term perspective rather than short-term interests and should support the rightful struggle of the East Turkistan people and take serious steps to end the occupation and genocide.

I would like to draw your attention again to the region where East Turkistan is located. Today, the civil war and humanitarian crisis that has been going on for years in Myanmar, the occupation of the lands of India, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and other South Asian countries, the provocation of the borders by Chinese military units, the danger to Taiwan, the loss of sovereignty and economic integrity of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and other Central Asian countries in China's debt trap, and the seizure of strategic areas by China are all indicators of regional and global dangers.

When viewed globally, it is China that is again coveting the ports in Islamic countries and putting them in a debt trap. It is also China that is forcing Turkey to remain silent on the East Turkistan issue in return for economic investments and wants to interfere with Turkey's sovereignty. In this context, I would like to appreciate and express our gratitude for the close interest of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the East Turkistan cause. China is an expansionist in the region, a colonialist in Africa, a trigger for wars in the Middle East, and a threat that destroys justice and peace on a global scale. The basis of these developments lies in China’s genocidal policies in East Turkistan. East Turkistan, a strategically located country with rich resources, is China’s only gateway to the West. China is systematically implementing genocide, changing demographics, and destroying the identities of the East Turkistan people in order to secure East Turkistan. When we look at the issue from this perspective, we have come together not only because of our responsibilities, but also to overcome the danger that is at the doorstep of all of us; to stop Chinese expansionism and protect ourselves.

Dear attendees, my fellow comrades, the unyielding supporters of the East Turkistan cause, our statesmen and representatives from all countries; I have stated from a different perspective that the East Turkistan cause is a matter of humanity not only in terms of values ​​but also in terms of duties and interests.

As the International East Turkistan NGOs Union, I am ready to wage a struggle for justice and humanity for East Turkistan based on values, observing political and social dynamics, aiming to build regional and global security, and I invite all our supporters to carry out joint work in more areas. As the International East Turkistan NGOs Union, we act with the principle of gaining global legitimacy in the East Turkistan issue, expanding areas of work in the countries of the Eastern region, diversifying methods of struggle and initiatives, increasing the number of supporting and collaborating institutions and individuals, strengthening the East Turkistan diaspora, defending global justice, and fully respecting the national interests and security of all countries except China. We recognize the independence of East Turkistan as the historical right of our people, and we will continue our struggle for independence by respecting international law, treaties, legitimacy tools, and legal grounds. We will continue this struggle not with slogans or agitations, but with practical and strategic initiatives for our periodic and final goals.”

Then, a short film was presented to the audience, telling the story of the 16-year adventure and the position it has reached as a result of the relentless struggles and hardships endured.

WELCOME SPEECH

Then, President of the East Turkistan Scholars Union Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alimcan Buğda, Malaysia Amanah Negara Party International Relations Officer Mr. Raja Dato’ Ir Hajji Kamarul Bahrin Shah, European Scholars Union Vice President Dr. Haytham Al Haddad, Senate of the Indian States Parliament Sujeet Kumar, Thailand Sheikh-ul-Islam Office Foreign Affairs Council President Mr. Anusorn Sriadulpan, Malaysia Scholars Union President Dato` Wan Mohamad Abd Aziz, Maghreb Islamic Scholars Union President Dr. Hasan Al Kattani, Algerian MP Masud Bassas, World Uyghur Congress Vice President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erkin Ekrem, Sanjak Mufti Muhammed Demirovic and Sanjak Imams Union President Mr. Faruk Imamovic, Algerian MP Mr. Abdulani Musamidah, Muhammadan Jamaat Guidance President Mr. Tuan H Fahmi Salim, Presidential Advisor Mr. Ahmet Selim Köroğlu and Presidential Advisor Mr. Ayhan Oğan, İyi Party Istanbul Deputy Mr. Muhammed Satuk Buğra Kavuncu, President of the Union of Islamic World Civil Society Organizations, Mr. Eyüp Akbal, IMH General President Mr. Mehmet Güney, Palestine Scholars Union Secretary General Dr. Muhammed Vali, Malaysian Youth Movement Deputy Chairman Mr. Enver Ismail, World Scholars Union High Advisory Board Member Dr. Jamal Abdusattar and many other valuable names made separate welcoming speeches.

NATIONAL IMPACT OF THE GENOCIDE: CHARACTERISTICS AND IMPACT

In the afternoon, the first panel titled “National Impact of the Genocide: Characteristics, Results and Effects”, moderated by Ms. Fatma Er Hanım Efendi, addressed the national social and cultural effects of the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan with presentations by Panelists Nur Muhammed Turkistani, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alimcan Buğda and Dr. Adilcan Eruygur.

THE DANGER OF AN EXPANSIONIST CHINA IN ASIA

Then, the second panel titled “The Danger of an Expansionist China in Asia”, moderated by Mr. Abdulahad Udun, Secretary General of the East Turkistan Human Rights Monitoring Association, featured panelists Prof. Dr. Mahesh Ranjan Debata, Prof. Dr. Yaşar Sarı, Dr. Sadia Rahman, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Kul. The first day of the Meeting concluded with comprehensive presentations by Dr. Seiji Nishihara, addressing China's increasing influence and threats in Asia, energy policies, the One Belt One Road Project, regional balances, and increasing security issues under the genocidal Xi Jinping government.