Uyghur Community Gathering Held in New Delhi

On September 14, an important Uyghur Community Gathering took place in New Delhi, the capital of India, organized by the International Union of East Turkistan Organizations (IUETO) and the newly established India Uyghur Society. The meeting was attended by 12 Uyghur representatives from Ladakh, Kargil, Srinagar, and New Delhi. The gathering focused on the status of the Uyghur community in India, their challenges, and efforts to preserve their cultural heritage, concluding with a call for unity and solidarity.

The opening speech was delivered by IUETO President Hidayet Oğuzhan. He emphasized the importance of the East Turkistan diaspora and provided the attendees with information on the activities of the International Union of East Turkistan Organizations and the current situation in East Turkistan. Oğuzhan stressed the need for the Uyghur community in India to be more organized and united in order to support the East Turkistan cause globally.

Lawyer Muhammed Sharing Lasso, who also spoke at the meeting, highlighted the importance of collective action in defending Uyghur rights. Lasso emphasized the need for the Uyghur diaspora in India to build a more effective network of solidarity.

Wasim Abdullah, President of the newly established India Uyghur Society, shared the society’s vision, mission, and plans. Abdullah explained the society’s goal of uniting the Uyghur community in India to ensure social welfare and cultural unity. The society will develop various projects to promote Uyghur culture in India, strengthen community unity, and ensure stronger representation on international platforms.

The Situation of Uyghurs in India

The majority of the Uyghur community in India resides in the cities of Leh and Kargil in Ladakh, neighboring East Turkistan, and in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. A smaller number of Uyghurs live in New Delhi. This community mainly consists of the descendants of families who migrated from East Turkistan to India approximately 70 years ago, with most members being third or fourth-generation Uyghurs. While the older generation still speaks Uyghur, younger members of the community mostly prefer Hindi (Urdu) and English.

In Ladakh, the primary source of income for Uyghurs is the tourism industry, where they provide services to tourists. According to Uyghur representatives, approximately 300 Uyghurs are living in India. This small community strives to maintain their cultural identity while adapting to the society they live in.

The meeting concluded with discussions on steps to be taken for stronger organization of the Uyghur diaspora in India and support for the global Uyghur cause.