Washington, DC [US], December 16 (ANI): As the world approaches December 22, East Turkistan’s National Day of Mourning, the East Turkistan National Movement (ETNM) is calling on the international community to confront what it describes as China’s ongoing occupation and genocide of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Turkic peoples. The anniversary marks 76 years since the fall of the independent East Turkistan Republic in 1949 and is framed by the organization as a critical moment to demand accountability and advocate for independence.
In a post on X, ETNM urged governments, particularly the United States, to formally recognize East Turkistan as an occupied country and support its restoration under international law, citing the U.S. Captive Nations Law and multiple UN General Assembly resolutions.
To amplify its message, ETNM announced it will host a demonstration on Sunday, December 21, 2025, from 1–3 PM at Lafayette Park near the White House, highlighting the ongoing struggle for Uyghur and Turkic rights and seeking global attention ahead of the historic commemoration.
ETNM is a political advocacy and human rights organization that works internationally to support the independence and self-determination of East Turkistan, the homeland of the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples, currently administered by China as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
In a separate post, ETNM noted that China claims Uyghurs are the “happiest Muslims in the world.” Yet Chinese judicial data indicate that 578,500 Uyghurs have been sentenced to terms of up to life imprisonment—over 33% of the officially incarcerated population—despite Uyghurs making up less than 2% of the population across all territories under PRC control.
Reports from human rights organizations, journalists, and former detainees indicate that Uyghur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region face systemic persecution. Many are reportedly held in what China calls “re-education” or vocational centers, where detainees experience physical abuse, including beatings, electric shocks, and shackling, as well as psychological abuse such as sleep deprivation, threats to family members, and forced ideological indoctrination.
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