Uighur activist calls Turkish PM ‘brother’

TOKYO

The visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Uighur capital of Urumqi in April was “significant and historical,” according to Rebiya Kadeer, a Uighur human rights activist with origins in Xinjiang, who also called for more support, daily Hürriyet has reported.

“I ask Mr. Prime Minister to prevent the extermination of the Uighur Turks from the East Turkistan region by the Chinese policies.” said Kadeer, speaking from Japan where she was attending the forth World Uighur Congress. She also referred to Erdoğan as “our brother.” Erdoğan became the first Turkish prime minister ever to visit the autonomous Uighur region of Xinjiang. The president of the World Uighur Congress, Kadeer, who is based in the United States, said the East Turkistan people’s hopes had been raised upon Erdoğan’s “historical” visit.

“Erdoğan’s visit motivates our people. We are pleased with the Turkish government and its people’s support,” said Kadeer. Kadeer was denied a Turkish visa in 2006 and 2007. However, amid a Chinese crackdown in 2009, Erdoğan said if she were to apply for a visa Turkey would provide it.