July 16, 2026, ISTANBUL | Nizamettin Askin

The 20th Anniversary of the East Turkistan Education and Solidarity Association and the 18th World East Turkistan Brotherhood Gathering have officially commenced in Istanbul, drawing broad participation from the East Turkistani diaspora worldwide.

Organized under the theme "Common Cause, Strong Organization, Concrete Steps," the program opened at the Kazlıçeşme Conference Center in the Zeytinburnu district. The gathering was attended by East Turkistani NGO representatives, scholars, and opinion leaders residing in Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Australia, Canada, and many other countries, alongside delegates from numerous civil society organizations operating in Istanbul.

Musajan Er, President of the East Turkistan Education and Solidarity Association

Delivering the opening remarks at the event, which began with a recitation of the Holy Quran, Musajan Er, President of the Association, stated: "Today, we are gathered here united by a profound sense of pride, great enthusiasm, and a heavy historical responsibility. We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of our association—an institution we built with wisdom, elevated through education, and sustained to this day through perseverance, patience, and solidarity—while simultaneously inaugurating the 18th World East Turkistan Brotherhood Gathering. We have convened not merely to commemorate two decades of activities by an ordinary organization, but to honor a torch of enlightenment ignited against oppression. We are here to mark a 20-year glorious resistance against assimilation, genocide, and the systematic erasure of a nation, and to celebrate a national reawakening movement forged shoulder to shoulder under the banners of 'Education' and 'Solidarity'."

"Ignorance Was the Root Cause of Our Past Failures"

Emphasizing that their founding narrative transcends an ordinary civil society initiative, Er continued: "Following the invasions that began in the late 18th century, and particularly after the Chinese communist occupation in 1949, East Turkistan was plunged into unprecedented darkness. Through a sinister agenda, the Chinese regime imprisoned and martyred our opinion leaders, religious scholars, and intellectuals who guided our people. Left leaderless and disoriented, our nation was systematically deprived of access to science, knowledge, and educational institutions (madrasas). The primary reason why our past struggles to preserve our existence yielded no results was this very quagmire of ignorance and the deliberate elimination of our qualified pioneers. Consequently, in 2006, recognizing that the fundamental key to liberating our people from this captivity was raising well-equipped, conscious generations acting with intellect, we took action. Under the leadership of our late leader, Abdulhakim Khan Makhsum, our dedicated intellectuals, scholars, and brave youth united to take the first collective step of this reawakening movement."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alimjan Bugda, President of the East Turkistan Union of Scholars

"A Migration and Struggle Inspired by the Prophetic Example"

Addressing the attendees, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alimjan Bugda, President of the East Turkistan Union of Scholars, said: "In East Turkistan, occupied by China in 1949, immense efforts were made to resist the occupation. However, due to China's extreme repression and the absolute prohibition of religious education—which was replaced by a curriculum based on atheistic and communist ideologies—our scholars and freedom fighters could not advance their struggle as envisioned, nor achieve victory. Consequently, witnessing the joy of liberation in neighboring countries like Afghanistan, our East Turkistani brothers decided to relocate their struggle for freedom abroad, where they began systematically organizing and providing sound education.

"Decades earlier, in 1952, some of our prominent elders had also chosen the path of migration. Statesmen such as the late Isa Yusuf Alptekin and Muhammad Amin Bughra migrated to expose China's atrocities in East Turkistan to the world, dedicating 40 to 50 years to this diplomatic struggle. When these efforts did not yield the ultimate desired outcome, our people looked to the example of the Prophet Muhammad’s migration (Hijrah) from Mecca to Medina. They migrated and organized to continue the fight for East Turkistan's independence, settling in Afghanistan, West Turkestan, Turkey, and various other nations."

Reflecting on missed opportunities between 1995 and 2017 due to a lack of academic and organizational infrastructure, Dr. Bugda noted: "Following that era, a group of East Turkistanis, spearheaded by respected elders like Abdulhakim Khan Makhsum and Abdulkadir Yapcan, arrived in Turkey. Extensive discussions were held regarding the root causes of our past setbacks. Ultimately, a consensus was reached: the core issues were a deficiency in education and widespread ignorance. It became evident that any structural movement had to begin with education. Through consultations with our Muslim brethren in our host countries, the East Turkistan Education and Solidarity Association was formally established."

Dr. Adem Uslu, District Governor of Zeytinburnu

"This Righteous Struggle Will Surely Bear Fruit One Day"

Also speaking at the program, Zeytinburnu District Governor Dr. Adem Uslu remarked: "It may seem presumptuous for me to articulate the cause of East Turkistan to the very people of East Turkistan. You are the resilient warriors who shoulder the immense weight of this cause and broadcast it to the world. I extend my deepest gratitude to all of you for your tireless efforts in amplifying the voice of East Turkistan globally, and for exposing China's long-standing human rights violations and its network of concentration camps to the international community. We pray to the Almighty that this righteous struggle you are waging, both here in Turkey and across the globe, will inevitably bear fruit. We look forward to the day when the national anthem of East Turkistan is sung freely once again in your homeland."

Proceedings to Conclude with Closed-Door Sessions in Kocaeli

The program will continue over the weekend with closed-door sessions in Kocaeli Province. These working sessions will focus on evaluating the progress of the East Turkistan cause to date, identifying areas for improvement, and analyzing the current state of advocacy efforts in Turkey. Future strategic consultations will heavily emphasize the core objectives of maintaining robust unity, advancing a common cause, building a strong organizational framework, and executing concrete steps. (Ilke News Agency - İLKHA)