East Turkestan has been a foundational member of the UNPO since 1991. 

East Turkestan, also known as the “Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,” is a Central Asian region rich in Uyghur history, culture, and civilization. However, the Uyghurs are denied self-governance, with the Chinese government enforcing assimilation policies that undermine their identity and culture. This lack of representation and self-determination has led to the erosion of Uyghur cultural and national identity.

Additionally, the Uyghur people face severe repression, including mass surveillance, arbitrary detention, forced assimilation, and systematic exclusion from political decision-making. The Uyghur Tribunal and numerous human rights organizations have documented these atrocities, confirming that the Chinese government’s actions constitute genocide, with ongoing efforts to eradicate Uyghur identity, culture, and religion, leading to widespread global condemnation.

Moreover, the Uyghurs are not only unrepresented at the national level but also on the international stage. The Chinese government actively denies the Uyghurs’ plight, failing to represent their interests while engaging in widespread misinformation campaigns. These efforts aim to obscure the reality of the situation, misleading the international community and downplaying the severe human rights abuses occurring in East Turkestan. This lack of genuine representation, combined with China’s efforts to manipulate global narratives, further isolates the Uyghurs and exacerbates their struggle for justice and recognition.

The UNPO secretariat works for the rights of the people of East Turkestan as a whole and might work with different civil society organizations, groups and representatives from East Turkestan. However, the main organization representing the rights of the people of East Turkestan within the UNPO membership and with voting rights at the General Assembly is the  World Uyghur Congress (WUC). You can read more about the World Uyghur Congress here. 

East Turkestan, covering 1.6 million km² in Central Asia, is a region of strategic importance, bordered by Russia, Afghanistan, India, and China. It is the historical cradle of Uyghur civilization, a distinct Turkic people with a rich cultural heritage shaped by their Islamic faith and centuries-old traditions. The Uyghurs have maintained a unique identity through their language, traditional music, dance, and cuisine, which reflects a blend of Central Asian, Persian, and Chinese influences. Their cultural and religious distinctiveness underscores their status as a distinct people deserving of the right to self-determination.

East Turkestan has long been a crossroads of civilizations, inhabited by various ethnic groups, including the Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and Tajiks. The region flourished as a key hub on the ancient Silk Road, fostering the exchange of goods, ideas, and religions, including Buddhism and Islam.

After the Chinese Nationalists overthrew the Manchu Empire in 1911, East Turkistan fell under the rule of warlords of Chinese ethnicity who came to dominate provincial administration in the later years of the Manchu Empire. The Chinese central government had little control over East Turkistan during this period. The Uyghurs, who wanted to free themselves from foreign domination, staged numerous uprisings against Chinese rule, and twice (in 1933 and in 1944) succeeded in setting up an independent East Turkistan Republic (ETR). However, these independent republics were overthrown by the military intervention and political intrigue of the Soviet Union.

In October of 1949, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops marched into East Turkistan, effectively ending the ETR. The Chinese communists established the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the territory of East Turkistan and the region was forcibly incorporated into the People’s Republic of China in 1949, leading to ongoing resistance against Chinese rule.

Despite being labeled as the “Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,” East Turkestan lacks genuine autonomy. The Chinese government maintains overwhelming control, with most key governmental positions held by Han Chinese officials. This systematic disenfranchisement reflects a broader pattern of marginalization and subjugation, where superficial nods to autonomy, such as the placement of Uyghur officials in high-ranking roles, are undermined by centralized Chinese authority. This governance structure perpetuates a sense of occupation rather than self-determination, systematically repressing Uyghur political agency.

The Uyghur people are currently facing a dreadful situation that has been recognized internationally as genocide and crimes against humanity.The Uyghur tribunal and a recent UN report have documented widespread abuses, including mass arbitrary detentions, torture, forced labor, and systemic suppression of Uyghur culture and religion. The Chinese government’s aggressive Sinicization policies, including language suppression, economic marginalization, and forced assimilation, are aimed at eradicating Uyghur identity. The Uyghur people face forced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and torture under vague charges of “separatism” or “extremism.” The incarceration of prominent figures like Professor Ilham Tohti symbolizes the broader repression of Uyghur dissent.

Moreover, Uyghur women are particularly vulnerable, facing gender-based violence and coercive reproductive policies designed to suppress their population. Uyghur refugees, fleeing persecution, risk forcible deportation to China and object of transnational repression acts lead sometime by Chinese diplomats themselves, where they face further mistreatment. Despite these terrible circumstances, Uyghur activists continue to advocate for justice, visibility, and empowerment within their community.

The right to self-determination is crucial for the Uyghur people as it embodies their inherent right to control their own destiny, preserve their cultural identity, and protect their fundamental freedoms. In the context of the severe repression they face under Chinese rule—including cultural erasure, religious persecution, and systematic human rights abuses—self-determination would empower the Uyghurs to reclaim agency over their lives and their homeland, East Turkestan. Furthermore, self-determination is vital for the survival of the Uyghur people as a distinct cultural group, offering them the possibility to live in peace and security, while safeguarding their language, religion, and heritage from ongoing assimilation and genocide. By asserting their right to self-determination, the Uyghurs can seek justice for past and present injustices and build a future that honors their identity and aspirations, setting a precedent for other marginalized and oppressed groups worldwide.