dogu-turkistan-sempozyumu

ForewordEast Turkestan, which was frequently invaded by Chinese armies since thesecond half of the 18th century, occupied in 1949 and officially declared anautonomous region of China in 1955, is still under occupation. Crimes againsthumanity are perpetrated in Kashgar, Urumqi, Turpan, and other historical EastTurkestani territories.Basic human rights of the East Turkestani people have been usurped for 61years. As a result of the systematic settlement of ethnic Chinese population inEast Turkestan, local people are forced to migrate within East Turkestan or leavethe region and join diaspora in different parts of the world. Stealing of newbornbabies from their mother through strict birth control policies, ban on Islamicfasting and attending mosques, imposition of Chinese as the obligatory languageof education, restrictions on education, employment and health services, forcedlabor, exiles, detention, unjust imprisonment and similar practices have become apart of the daily life of the East Turkestani people.The story of a people that have live under oppressive policies fails to appear onthe world agenda because of realpolitik of international relations, disinformationand distortions. This study contains the papers presented at Free East TurkestanSymposium that aims to expose unlawful practices the local peoples have faced fordecades, open the region to the inspection of civilian human rights organizations,work out plans to ensure delivery of humanitarian aid to all parts of East Turkestan,and include official and civilian, local and international authorities in search for aresolution that favors rights and justice for the East Turkestani people. Publishedin Turkish, English, Uyghur and Arabic languages, this study hopes to contributeto a better understanding of the East Turkestani problem and to the struggle ofthe East Turkestani people.267