Selçuk Özdağ, Deputy Chairman of the Future Party of Türkiye, drew attention to the human rights violations in East Turkistan in a post on his social media account. Özdağ stated that Uyghur Turks are subjected to systematic oppression and persecution because of their religious beliefs, identity, and language, adding that in light of this situation, the "happy meetings" held by members of the AK Party Youth Branch at the invitation of the Chinese Communist Party amount to ignoring the suffering of the oppressed.
Özdağ said, "No realpolitik or diplomatic courtesy can be a justification for covering up human rights violations. The duty of a politician is not to pose for photos in the shadow of the oppressor, but to be the voice of the oppressed. To silence the cry of the oppressed and smile at the oppressor's table is a grave burden before history. True diplomacy is not about currying favor with the powerful, but about defending justice."
