PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE)
East-Turkistan.Net
contact@East-Turkistan.Net
6 May 2024
PARIS, France – The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile (ETGE) and the Uyghur Association of France (Association des Ouïghours de France) successfully conducted a significant demonstration on Monday, May 6, 2024, at Place de la Madeleine, Paris. This demonstration, strategically timed with the state visit of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, highlighted the urgent plea of the East Turkistani people against ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in their homeland.
The demonstration saw dozens of members of the Uyghur diaspora and French supporters coming together to highlight the plight of East Turkistan and its people. The event highlighted the desperate need for a global response to China’s genocidal campaign, which include mass detentions, forced labor, and physical and cultural erasure.
Deputy Prime Minister of the East Turkistan Government in Exile and President of the Uyghur Association of France, Mr. Mirqedir Mirzat, addressed the crowd, emphasizing the severe conditions in East Turkistan. “As we speak, these camps are being transformed into formal prisons, an ominous sign that China intends no end to its genocidal policies,” Mr. Mirzat revealed from his speech.
The protestors called upon the French government to lead global efforts against these injustices, demanding that President Macron and the French government take a principled stand. They called on President Macron to unequivocally condemns China’s ongoing genocide in East Turkistan during his talks with Chinese dictator Xi Jinping and supports tangible actions to end China’s crimes in East Turkistan.
In addition, Mr. Mirzat urged France to address Chinese colonization of East Turkistan. “Recognizing the occupation and colonization of East Turkistan as the core issue, France must advocate for East Turkistan’s right to external self-determination, respecting its own historical commitment to the principle of self-determination,” he highlighted during the speech.
The demonstration drew significant attention to the plight of the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples, with protestors calling on the French Parliament to take concrete actions. Protestors called upon France to lead a coalition to impose stringent sanctions on Chinese officials and entities directly involved in these atrocities.
The East Turkistan Government in Exile and the Uyghur Association of France express their gratitude to all participants and supporters, reaffirming their commitment to advocate for the independence and freedoms of the East Turkistani people.
