17 November 2025
Press Release – For Immediate Release
East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE)
East-Turkistan.Net
contact@East-Turkistan.Net
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile (ETGE) condemns, in the strongest terms, the HTS‑dominated Syrian government’s alignment with the People’s Republic of China on so‑called “security” and “counter‑terrorism” cooperation directed against East Turkistan. This alignment supports China’s ongoing genocide, colonization, and occupation of East Turkistan. It constitutes a direct betrayal of the sacrifices of Uyghurs in Syria, whose participation in the Syrian revolution was instrumental in enabling HTS to overthrow the Assad regime.
Tens of thousands of Uyghurs were lured into the “Turkistan Islamic Party(TIP)” in Syria by Chinese and Turkish intelligence networks under false promises that Syrian support would later be provided for the liberation of East Turkistan. Uyghur fighters were deployed alongside Jabhat al‑Nusra, later rebranded as Hayat Tahrir al‑Sham. Thousands were killed as cannon fodder in key battles against the Assad regime.
The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile maintains that the TIP, established in Pakistan, China’s all-weather ally, in late 1997, is a Chinese intelligence false-flag entity created to undermine East Turkistan’s independence movement by falsely linking it to terrorism and global jihad. Since its inception, TIP has diverted Uyghurs from their national struggle, drawn them into foreign proxy conflicts, and provided Beijing with manufactured justification for claims of “Uyghur terrorism.”
“The new Syrian government’s vow to expand cooperation with China on so-called ‘security’ and ‘counter-terrorism’ is a profound betrayal of the thousands of Uyghurs who died fighting for the Syrian revolution,” said Dr. Mamtimin Ala, President of the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile. “Syria must condemn China’s campaign of colonization, genocide, and occupation in East Turkistan, not support it,” he added.
China has exploited the presence of Uyghur fighters in Syria as justification for its ongoing genocide in East Turkistan since May 2014. Under the false pretext of “counter-terrorism,” millions of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic peoples have been imprisoned in concentration camps and prisons, enslaved through forced labor, hundreds of thousands of women forcibly sterilized, millions of babies aborted, and over a million Uyghur children separated from their families. Over 16,000 mosques have been destroyed, millions of Islamic texts burned, and cultural and religious practices criminalized across East Turkistan.
The new Syrian government, rather than repaying Uyghurs’ sacrifices by condemning China’s genocidal policies and colonial occupation in East Turkistan, has adopted the Assad regime’s stance, expanding cooperation with Beijing under the guise of “security” and “counter-terrorism.”
Credible reports state that Syria has promised to hand over Uyghur fighters to China. While official denials exist, the joint Syrian-Chinese statement issued in Beijing affirms Syria’s commitment to protecting China’s security interests and expanding counter-terrorism cooperation. Handing over Uyghurs to China would violate international law, including the principle of non-refoulement, and expose them to torture, imprisonment, or execution.
The East Turkistan Government in Exile emphasizes that East Turkistan’s struggle is a legitimate fight for national liberation, decolonization, and external self-determination. It has nothing to do with terrorism, extremism, separatism, or religious fundamentalism. The majority of Uyghurs in Syria are victims of Chinese-Turkish intelligence exploitation and manipulation. They must be separated from compromised TIP leadership controlled by Chinese and Turkish intelligence services and aligned Islamist ideologues, rehabilitated and protected, not delivered to China.
“We call on the Syrian government to immediately halt any actions that threaten the safety of Uyghurs in Syria or undermine East Turkistan’s national liberation struggle,” said Salih Hudayar, Foreign Minister of the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile. “The ETGE remains open to engaging with Syria, the United States, and partner governments to pursue solutions that protect Uyghurs, strengthen global security, and support the East Turkistani people’s rightful struggle to restore their freedom, independence, and sovereignty,” he added.
The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile calls on all governments and international bodies to protect Uyghurs, prevent forced transfers to China, hold Beijing accountable for its campaign of colonization and genocide, and support the East Turkistani people’s right to self-determination and independence, consistent with UN Resolution 3070 (1973).