The below article was published by Al Balad, photo credit: Salih Hudayar/ETNM
“To be honest, we already lost our hope in the Muslim countries,” said Salih Hudayar
Somalia became the only muslim country has supported a motion to discuss the plights of Uighurs and other muslim minority ethnics in Xinjiang Province, China, in a voting earlier this month at the UN Human Rights Council.
Indonesia along with Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Mauritania, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan opposed the motion. Meanwhile Libya and Malaysua decided to abstain.
Prime Minister of the East Turkistan Government in Exile Salih Hudayar said he is extremely disappointed by the muslim countries rejection.
“To be honest, we already lost our hope in the Muslim countries,” said Hudayar in an exclusive interview with Faisal Assegaf from Albalad.co via WhatsApp yesterday. “We are now left at the mercy of western countries that value human rights and freedom.”
Excerpts:
How disappointed you are about rejection from muslim countries about that motion in the UN Human Rights Council?
We are extremely dissapointed by the Muslim countries rejection of the East Turkistan motion at the UN Human Rights Council. We see this as treachery against the predominantly Muslim Turkic people of East Turkistan.
Have you predicted before about their decision?
Given the overwhelming silence of the Muslim world against China’s ongoing genocide of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in East Turkistan over the years, we knew most Muslim countries wouldn’t vote in favor of the motion. However, the fact that some Muslim countries chose to vote against the motion instead of abstaining is extremely treacherous .
What is their main reason? Fear of China’s power?
I don’t think it’s necessarily the fear of China’s power but rather the deep economic relations and trade that they have with China. China has invested hundreds of billions in the Muslim world and by doing so it has effectively bought their support in some cases and in many cases their silence on issues like the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan.
What do you think about Indonesia which bravely defend Rohinya people but afraid on Uighur issue?
We condemn Indonesia’s government for voting against the Uyghur motion at the UN Human Rights Council. If Indonesia’s Government is truly committed to defending the rights of Muslims, then it shouldn’t hold a double standard against the Muslims of Chinese Occupied East Turkistan.
If this phenomena continue where majority of muslim countries continue to silence on human rights violations against muslim people in Xinjiang, what will you do?
The Muslim world has been ignoring the plight of East Turkistan and its people for the last 100 years. To be honest, we already lost our hope in the Muslim countries. We are now left at the mercy of western countries that value human rights and freedom.
Do you believe that there is no muslim country can be trusted to help the plight of East Turkistan?
Muslim countries have to break their silence and starting taking actions against China’s ongoing genocide in East Turkistan in order for us to trust them. Unfortunately, over the past several decades many Muslim countries betrayed our trust and worked to help China in suppressing our cause even in those Muslim countries.
