dogu-turkistan-sempozyumu

Translated from Turkish by Selcuk YatkinAhmet Emin DagIHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Special Representative for Middle EastTurkey and the Islamic World in the Solutionof the East Turkistan ProblemIt is amazing, but true, that there is an affinity and spiritual associationthat reaches beyond the geographical distance between Turkey, located atthe westernmost part of the Turkish world, and East Turkistan, located at theeasternmost part of the Turkish world. However, this intense emotional affinitymost often occurs when faced with political and economic problems.The political closeness that was particularly noticeable during the late periodof the Ottoman Empire could not be transformed into long-term cooperation.In the 19 th century local administrators in East Turkistan accepted the rule ofthe Ottoman Empire and the hutba in the mosques were read in the name ofthe sultan as part of the strengthening of political ties. Sultan Abdulaziz senta military delegation to Yakup Bey, the emir of East Turkistan, to protect himagainst rival states; the establishment of an Islamic university in the region wasa topic that was discussed during the reign of Abdulhamid II. However, theweakness of the Ottoman Empire in the late period prevented the continuationof this interest; added to this was the great distance between the countries and theincreasing power of China, as well a series of invasions, all of which prevented thecementing of ties between the nations.The twentieth century was the beginning of a new era, one in which almostall Islamic territories in the world were invaded. The severance of ties with EastTurkistan began in Turkey at the start of the 20 th century. As Turkey turned herface to the West, in every aspect, there was a reduction in the interest she showedtowards all Asian countries. This change, felt not only in political and economicaspects, but also culturally, left only romantic connections for the Turks in Asia.It was impossible for Turkey to exert any significant successful resistance againstRussia or China, as at this time Turkey herself was struggling for existence; thus,505