Uighurs Find Shelter In Turkey, Avoid Repatriation To China

A number of Uighur Turks who had been detained in Thailand for over a year, pitting Turkey against China in a diplomatic tug-of-war, have been allowed to go to Turkey's central province of Kayseri after the Turkish government made intense diplomatic efforts on their behalf.

The state of Uighurs in Thailand has been the source of a diplomatic crisis between China and Turkey, with both countries wanting to repatriate them.

A total of 173 Uighur Turks arrived in Kayseri on Wednesday, leaving behind a period of detention marked by fear of repatriation to China. Fleeing persecution and repression in China, hundreds of Turkic Uighurs have sought to settle in Thailand, but the Thai government has placed them behind bars on charges of border violation.

Hundreds of people have been killed in unrest in Xinjiang over the past two years, prompting a crackdown by Chinese authorities and Uighurs to flee the country. Hundreds, possibly thousands, have traveled clandestinely through Southeast Asia en route to Turkey.

Early in March of this year, a group of 17 Uighur Turks who were detained were the cause of a diplomatic showdown between Turkey and China, as both sides relentlessly tried to convince the Thai government to repatriate the detainees.

Turkey's unwavering efforts finally yielded results and the Thai government agreed to send 173 Uighurs to Turkey. According to media reports, a private plane brought the group to İstanbul on Tuesday night. Kayseri, home to a large Uighur diaspora, was the ultimate destination.

World Uighur Congress Vice President and Kayseri-based East Turkistan Association Head Seyit Tümtürk expressed his gratitude to the Turkish state for its decision to allow Uighurs fleeing repression to resettle in Turkey.

The number of Uighur Turks who have escaped from China to Turkey has exceeded 1,000, reports say.

China upset with Turkey's concerns over Ramadan restrictions

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied restricting religious freedom on Wednesday in a sharp response to Turkey's concern over reports that ethnic Uighur Muslims have been barred from worshiping and fasting during Ramadan.

Some local governments in China's far western region of Xinjiang have stepped up repression of the Islamic faith, including restrictions on fasting during Ramadan.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry said it had been saddened by these reports and expressed its concerns to China's ambassador in Ankara.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China wanted to have a good relationship with Turkey.

"China has already demanded that Turkey clarify these reports and we have expressed concern about the statement from the Turkish foreign ministry," Hua told a daily news briefing.

"You should know that all the people of Xinjiang enjoy the freedom of religious belief accorded to them by the Chinese constitution," she added.

"We of course hope that the Turkish side can meet China halfway and ensure the smooth development of ties."

The holy month of Ramadan is a sensitive time in Xinjiang following a rise in attacks blamed by Beijing on militants over the past three years and hundreds have died in the violence.

Last month, state media and government websites in Xinjiang published stories and official notices demanding that party members, civil servants, students and teachers in particular do not to observe Ramadan, something that also happened last year.

Muslims worldwide observe Ramadan, with many abstaining from eating and drinking during daylight hours.

Reports of the ban have sparked outrage in Turkey, prompting human rights lawyers, rights groups and bar associations to speak up on behalf of Muslim Uighurs in international platforms.

Erzincan Bar Association President Cemalettin Özer, acting on behalf of the association, applied to the UN Human Rights Council to address the violation of human rights in China against Muslim Uighurs. In the application , Özer requested that the UN investigate whether or not Muslim Uighurs truly enjoy freedom of expression, religious liberty, the right to form associations, the right to assembly and equality before the law.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)