Dutch MP Stephan Van Baarle from the Denk Party has introduced a motion in the House of Representatives calling on the Dutch government to refer to the Uyghur region as “East Turkistan” instead of “Xinjiang.” Officially titled “Motie van het lid Van Baarle over de naam Oost-Turkestan hanteren in plaats van Xinjiang,” the motion argues that the term “Xinjiang” is a colonial label imposed by Beijing to undermine Uyghur identity. The full text of the motion can be found on the Dutch Parliament’s official website.

The motion has been welcomed by Uyghur diaspora communities around the world, who view it as an important symbolic and political gesture to challenge China’s narrative and restore historical truth.

The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) issued an official statement supporting the motion, calling it a courageous stand for truth, justice, and historical integrity. The organization urged the Dutch Parliament to adopt the motion and called on other governments to take similar action.

Dr. Mamtimin Ala, President of the ETGE, described the initiative as a much-needed moral stance in a time of global silence. He encouraged international leaders to recognize the Uyghur genocide and confront China’s colonial and repressive policies in East Turkistan.

Following the U.S. State Department’s 2021 recognition of China’s actions as genocide, the Dutch Parliament became one of the first Western legislatures to pass a resolution acknowledging the atrocity. MP Van Baarle and the Denk Party have maintained strong ties with the Uyghur community in the Netherlands.

Dilshat Sultan

Apr. 15 2025