Simple English News Daily BONUS : East Turkistan, with FM Salih Hudayar.
Mar 7, 2026
Salih Hudayar, Uyghur politician and Foreign Minister of the East Turkestan Government-in-Exile, shares his journey from homeland to activism. He discusses East Turkestan history and who the Uyghurs are. He recounts family separation, internment and alleged erasure of identity. He explains international responses, demographic change risks, and the government-in-exile's aims and ways people can help.
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Family Members Died Extrajudicially In Camps
- Hudayar confirmed four extended relatives died in camps or prisons; some died inside camps from likely torture and others received official prison sentences.
- Camp detainees are held extrajudicially without known release dates and face harsh conditions.
Campaign Was Planned As Cultural Eradication
- Hudayar cites Chinese internal speeches and leaked documents showing the campaign was planned as cultural eradication, not genuine counterterrorism.
- Satellite imagery shows camp construction from 2010 and expansion into industrial parks and forced-labour facilities.
Why International Attention Faded
- Global attention waned after Russia invaded Ukraine and Western governments prioritized geopolitics and economic ties with China.
- Hudayar argues economic interdependence and corporate profit partly explain reduced pressure on China.