PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE)
East-Turkistan.Net
contact@East-Turkistan.Net
14 July 2025
The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile (ETGE) welcomes and applauds the decision of the Amsterdam Municipal Council, officially adopted on 10 July 2025, to formally recognize the name East Turkistan as the preferred and legitimate term for the Uyghur/Turkic homeland, rejecting the colonial designation imposed by the Chinese government.
The motion, titled “Wie onderdrukking herkent, spreekt ook Oost-Turkestan uit” (“Those who recognize oppression also speak the name East Turkistan”), was introduced by Council Member Suleyman Koyuncu of the DENK Party and passed under motion number 270 during deliberations on the city’s 2025 Spring Budget Review. It acknowledges the historical, cultural, and national identity behind the name East Turkistan and affirms the right of oppressed peoples to self-identify.
“We commend the Amsterdam Municipal Council for standing on the right side of history,” said Dr. Mamtimin Ala, President of the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile. “This recognition is a direct challenge to China’s decades-long effort to erase our name, our identity, and our very existence. Amsterdam has reaffirmed a fundamental truth: East Turkistan cannot be extinguished by force or propaganda.”
In adopting this motion, Amsterdam has not only acted with moral clarity; it has reinforced its long-standing commitment to human rights, decolonization, and the dignity of all communities.
The Council motion rightly notes that the Chinese name “Xinjiang,” meaning “New Territory,” is a colonial term imposed by the Chinese state, one which denies the native Uyghur and other Turkic peoples their national identity, history, and homeland. It further recognizes that the name East Turkistan reflects a deep historical and cultural continuity and is used by the vast majority of Uyghurs worldwide, including the Uyghur community in Amsterdam.
Mr. Adil Abilimit, ETGE Minister of Culture, Education, and Religious Affairs and President of the Netherlands-based East Turkistan National Education Foundation, added: “This decision resonates deeply with our people within East Turkistan and across our global diaspora. Amsterdam has shown that human dignity begins with being called by your rightful name.”
The motion draws upon international legal principles and human rights obligations. It references the serious concerns raised by the United Nations, the European Union, international human rights organizations, and the Dutch Parliament regarding the Chinese government’s ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in East Turkistan, including the erasure of Uyghur/Turkic language, culture, religion, and identity.
The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile reiterates that recognition of East Turkistan is the first step toward justice, liberation, and the ultimate restoration of its independence and national sovereignty. The ETGE urges governments and institutions around the world to take similar action and to align policy and language with decolonization, human rights, and international law.
Foreign Minister Salih Hudayar stated: “We call on all democratic cities, parliaments, and governments to follow Amsterdam’s principled example. Recognizing East Turkistan is not only an act of solidarity, it is a rejection of China’s ongoing campaign of genocide, occupation, and colonialism.”