IUETO February 2023 Activity Report

Press Release and Protest

February 5, on the commemoration event of the Gulja massacre, a press statement and protest were held in front of the Chinese Consulates in Istanbul, Stockholm and Amsterdam against the massacre committed in the city of Gulja on February 5, 1997, and also against the ongoing genocide.

The people of East Turkistan offered their help to earthquake victims.

In the morning hours of February 6, two earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.7 and 7.6 occurred in Turkey's Southeastern of Anatolia region. IUETO has carried out a series of aid works to help earthquake survivors since 6 February.

·         February 6, IUETO called for financial and in-kind aid mobilization for earthquake victims from East Turkistanis. Around 300 people signed up to volunteer in the earthquake zone. Within two weeks, 8 million TL of financial aid was provided.

·         February 9, our second emergency team consisting of 65 people set off for Hatay.

·         12 February, our 3rd emergency aid team consisting of 15 people set out for Adıyaman.

·         15 February, IUETO President Hidayet Oğuzhan donated 1 million TL by participating in the “Turkiye Tek Yurek (Turkiye: One heart)” donation campaign on behalf of the people of East Turkistan.

·         22 February, IUETO donated tents for 500 person worth 1,357.000 TL to the Türkoğlu District of Malatya, one of the most damaged provinces, through Mavi Hilal (Blue Crescent) Humanitarian Aid Organization.

·         In addition to that, East Turkistan ‘Nuzugum Family and Culture Association’ and ‘Hira Technology and Development Foundation’ organized the women of East Turkestan to produce the most needed winter clothes, blankets, hygiene products, children's toys, and to bake various sweets and donuts, and send them to the earthquake-stricken region. While our emergency aid teams participated in all kinds of search and rescue activities in the cities they visited, they also made 10 000 portions of Uyghur pilaf (rice dish) every day and distributed it to earthquake victims and search and rescue workers in the region. IUETO provided more than 8 million cash and in-kind donations in total.

IUETO Delegation to Malaysia

February 24, a delegation led by IUETO President Hidayet Oğuzhan started a one-week visit to Malaysia.

February 25, they met with the CEO of Global Peace Mission (GPM), Ahmad Fahmi, and the Deputy President of ABIM, Khairul Anwar and consulted about their visit to Malaysia.

26 February, the delegation met with founder of Baitul Amanah – Malaysia and special representative of Foreign Minister of Malaysia for peacebuilding and countering Islamophobia, Dr. Abdul Razzak Ahmad.

26 February, President of WADAH Organization and special commissioner of Human Rights of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Datuk Ahmad Azam was consulted about actions and works to be provided in helping the East Turkistan case, also about other activities that will be done in Malaysia and other Islamic countries.

27 February, the delegation attended the International Islamophobia Forum held in Kuala Lumpur. They met with Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Anwar İbrahim and Foreign Minister Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir. The issue of East Turkistan was brought up in the forum.

27 February, the delegation met with Mr. Jufitri Joha, the chairman of Benevolent Malaysia organization, and one of the young politicians in Malaysia and exchanged ideas about what he could do about the East Turkestan issues from inside Malaysia.

February 27, the delegation met with President of ACCIN -an umbrella organization of local and international NGOs in Malaysia- Haji Jamaluddin, President of the Green View Foundation - Dr. Said and leaders of International Baitul Maqdis Organization - Dr.Sharif and Dr. Ayman, and discussed about cooperation for East Turkestan issues in Malaysia.

February 28, the delegation held meeting at the headquarters of Global Peace Mission (GPM) organization, with Ahmad Fahmi, the CEO, and important people in the organization, and discussed about the East Turkestan issues and upcoming projects.

1 March, a very productive meeting was held with Malaysia MyGenerasi President and board members.

1 March, the delegations participated in the gala night of ‘IMAM’, a movie about the struggle for Islamic values in Malaysia.

2 March, the delegations visited Minister of Religious Affairs of State of Selangor, Malaysia, YB Mohd Zawawi Mughni.

2 March, the delegation entered the Parliament to maintain our contacts with various Party Parliamentarians, with whom we had previously lobbied with for the establishment of the Uyghur Friendship Group in the Malaysian Parliament.

2 March, the delegations met with Amanah Negara MP YB Azli Yusof, who was in the coalition in the Malaysian Government and Secretary General Norhayati and negotiated about the establishment of the Uyghur Friendship Group in the Malaysian parliament.

2 March, the delegations met with YB Aiman Athirah, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development and discussed the establishment of a Uyghur friendship group in the Malaysian Parliament and other related issues.

2 March, our delegations met with YB Syahredzan, Member of Parliament of the Malaysia’s Democratic Action Party (DAP).

2 March, our delegations met with Malaysian Education Minister YB Fadhlina Siddiq.

3 March, we are taking a historic step for East Turkistan in Malaysia, the "Uyghur Malaysia Relations Organization" was officially launched in Kuala Lumpur.