Exiled Uyghur Government rejects migration proposal to Turkiye

The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) has rejected a proposal for Uyghurs to migrate from China’s Xinjiang region to Turkiye, calling it a move that aligns with Beijing’s agenda, Indian newspaper The Tribune reported Monday.

The proposal, put forward by Professor Erhan Afyoncu, president of Turkiye’s National Defense University, was criticized by ETGE as a step towards depopulating East Turkistan and facilitating its colonization.

In a statement on its official website, the group argued that the plan would contribute to what it describes as China’s broader policies of ethnic cleansing and occupation.

The Uyghur population in China has faced widespread human rights concerns, including mass detentions, forced labor, and heavy surveillance. Beijing has denied accusations of genocide and repression, describing its policies as counter-terrorism measures.