After the difficult days I spent in the Xinjiang region, I finally arrived in Urumqi, the region's largest city. While coming to Urumqi, I had hoped that everything would be better here and that people would be more informed and unprejudiced. Unfortunately, the result was not much different. In this article, I will share with you the difficulties I encountered in Urumqi and the cold war that China is waging against the Uyghur Turks.
Journey to Urumqi: High Hopes in a Big City
As I was coming to Urumqi, I thought that the people in this big city would be more open-minded and less prejudiced. However, my first few days in the city showed the exact opposite of this expectation. The Uyghur Turks were so intimidated that whenever they heard the word "Turk," they would shout "TURKIYA" and run away. While trying to understand this situation, I began to learn the painful truth behind what was happening.
Fear and Propaganda Directed at Uyghur Turks
When I started talking to Uyghur Turks, I learned that an incident from 10 years ago still leaves deep scars here. It was claimed that a train had been bombed by Uyghur Turks and that those responsible had fled to Turkey. The Chinese government had alleged that Turkey accepted these people, thus proving that Turkey was a "terrorist state." Influenced by this propaganda, the Uyghur Turks were afraid to talk to Turks because they thought it could create great dangers for themselves and their families.
After doing some research, I learned that these individuals responsible had gone to Turkey and joined ISIS from there. However, when I tried to explain this to the Uyghur Turks, they said it did not matter. For them, the real threat was the pressure and intimidation policies implemented by the Chinese government. One of the Uyghur Turks said that anyone with any connection to Turkey was taken to concentration camps and was in great danger along with their families.
China’s Cold War: Pressures on Uyghur Turks
At this point, I began to understand more clearly the cold war that the Chinese government is waging against the Uyghur Turks. What I experienced in Urumqi shed light on the difficulties faced by the Uyghur Turks and the oppressive policies China applies against the people in this region. The Uyghur Turks live under immense pressure even while just trying to preserve their own culture and identity. The Chinese government is trying various ways to silence and intimidate the people in this region.
Conclusion: Being a Turk in China and the Painful Realities of the Uyghur Turks
This time I spent in Urumqi showed once again how difficult and dangerous it can be to be a Turk in China. The pressures experienced by the Uyghur Turks and the cold war that the Chinese government is waging against these people have revealed how sensitive and complex this region is. If you are ever thinking of going to China, I suggest you take into account the experiences I have shared in this article and not forget the painful realities that the Uyghur Turks are going through. Enjoy watching!
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