Source: memohaber | Translation: Turkistan Times
Ertuğrul Kaya, a Member of Parliament from Turkey's DEVA Party, characterized the Chinese government's policies toward Uyghur Turks as a "cultural genocide." In his speech, he emphasized: "Commercial relations cannot be an excuse for remaining silent about the oppression of Uyghur Turks."
Speaking at the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), Kaya, who is also a Clerk of the Assembly and MP for Gaziantep, strictly condemned the atrocities committed by the People's Republic of China against Uyghur Turks in East Turkistan. Kaya stated that China is attempting to cover up the truth through its massive propaganda apparatus and explained the tragic reality in the region point by point.
"Silence is a Shame for Humanity"
Kaya reminded that trade relations with China should not lead to turning a blind eye to human rights violations, stating:
"Trading with China or being supplied with cheap goods can never be a justification for remaining silent about the genocide, forced labor, and forced displacement inflicted upon 25 million Uyghur Turks. The silence of humanity, which has become a slave to materialism, in the face of these tragedies is truly a source of shame."
Kaya also recalled the words of the late leader of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegović: "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." He advocated that Turkey and the entire world must raise a stronger voice against this injustice.
"The Real Truth is This"
In the most impactful part of his speech, Ertuğrul Kaya used factual rebuttals to dismantle the Chinese government's myths of "re-education camps" and "vocational training" created to mislead the international community. Highlighting the bitter reality in East Turkistan by saying, "The real truth is this," he entered the following three points into the parliamentary record:
- Systematic Assimilation and Demographic Change:
Kaya emphasized that the population structure in the region is being intentionally altered: "The Uyghur people are being targeted by cunningly planned assimilation and demographic maneuvers. The fundamental goal is to uproot an entire people. That is the real truth!" He also strongly condemned Chinese authorities for stifling the religious freedom of Muslim Uyghurs and even adapting our Holy Book for propaganda to suit their interests.
- Modern Slavery:
Exposing that nearly 3 million Uyghur Turks are being forced into modern slavery under the guise of "labor transfer," Kaya stated: "China is deceiving the world. Millions released from camps have been distributed to industrial zones. These people work under strict surveillance and in the harshest conditions of slavery. That is the real truth!"
- The Ruse of Bypassing Embargoes:
Kaya pointed out that Chinese companies are using the trick of "changing the origin of goods" to escape Western embargoes. He questioned the government, demanding a careful investigation into whether Chinese goods entering Turkey have any connection to forced labor in East Turkistan.
"Oppression Will Not Last Forever"
Kaya concluded his speech by saying: "No matter how powerful the oppressor is, the victors before history are always the oppressed," expressing that as representatives of a noble nation, they will always stand by the oppressed Uyghur people.
