Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
Uighur exiles in Turkey persecuted by CCP's long arm
Istanbul has become the largest diaspora hub for Uighurs in exile. Uighurs and Turks share close linguistic, religious and cultural ties. For decades, Turkey has supported Uighur refugees fleeing from China.
Over the past few years, however, Turkish government's attitude towards #Uighur diaspora has changed due to China's growing diplomatic and economic influence over the country.
A dossier obtained by Axios dated from 2016 to 2017 provides rare proof that China is putting direct pressure on the Turkish government. According to these documents, the Chinese government accused Enver Turdi, a Uighur man fled to Turkey in 2014, of creating a pro-Islamic State website and participating in terrorism. China requested Turkey to arrest and extradite him. Turkey accepted the request and initiated criminal proceedings.
According to Turdi, what he did before escaping from China was just passing along information about China's abuses to the media and some overseas Uighur organisations. After his passport had expired, the #Turkey authorities placed him in a deportation facility and sent him to trial. A decision on his fate is still pending.
For the Chinese government, terrorism and extremism are just a convenient way to frame the religious and cultural activities of Uighurs. Signs of "religious extremism" include such behaviours as wearing long beards or refusing alcohol. This is why Hong Kong people are against the extradition bill and national security legislation.
Counter-terrorism and national security are often used as a pretext by #China to persecute dissidents, locally and abroad.
If the world does not stand up to China, the #CCP will extend its meddling hands beyond its boundaries and arrive on everyone's doorstep sooner or later.
#HongKong #HumanRight
Sources:
Axios, 20 May
https://www.axios.com/documents-chinas-secret-extradition-request-uighur-turkey-6d5ba886-c22c-47e8-b970-804fae274e2d.html
The Guardian, 24 May
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/24/fearful-uighurs-celebrate-eid-in-exile-in-turkey
NPR, 13 Mar
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/13/800118582/i-thought-it-would-be-safe-uighurs-in-turkey-now-fear-china-s-long-arm
Istanbul has become the largest diaspora hub for Uighurs in exile. Uighurs and Turks share close linguistic, religious and cultural ties. For decades, Turkey has supported Uighur refugees fleeing from China.
Over the past few years, however, Turkish government's attitude towards #Uighur diaspora has changed due to China's growing diplomatic and economic influence over the country.
A dossier obtained by Axios dated from 2016 to 2017 provides rare proof that China is putting direct pressure on the Turkish government. According to these documents, the Chinese government accused Enver Turdi, a Uighur man fled to Turkey in 2014, of creating a pro-Islamic State website and participating in terrorism. China requested Turkey to arrest and extradite him. Turkey accepted the request and initiated criminal proceedings.
According to Turdi, what he did before escaping from China was just passing along information about China's abuses to the media and some overseas Uighur organisations. After his passport had expired, the #Turkey authorities placed him in a deportation facility and sent him to trial. A decision on his fate is still pending.
For the Chinese government, terrorism and extremism are just a convenient way to frame the religious and cultural activities of Uighurs. Signs of "religious extremism" include such behaviours as wearing long beards or refusing alcohol. This is why Hong Kong people are against the extradition bill and national security legislation.
Counter-terrorism and national security are often used as a pretext by #China to persecute dissidents, locally and abroad.
If the world does not stand up to China, the #CCP will extend its meddling hands beyond its boundaries and arrive on everyone's doorstep sooner or later.
#HongKong #HumanRight
Sources:
Axios, 20 May
https://www.axios.com/documents-chinas-secret-extradition-request-uighur-turkey-6d5ba886-c22c-47e8-b970-804fae274e2d.html
The Guardian, 24 May
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/24/fearful-uighurs-celebrate-eid-in-exile-in-turkey
NPR, 13 Mar
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/13/800118582/i-thought-it-would-be-safe-uighurs-in-turkey-now-fear-china-s-long-arm
Axios
Documents show China's secret extradition request for Uighur in Turkey
Beijing is pushing foreign governments to do its bidding