East Turkestan Foundation leads new global initiative to preserve Uighur cultural heritage and promote human rights awareness through international advocacy.

A Vanguard for the Ummah: The East Turkestan Foundation’s New Mission

In an era where the spiritual and cultural identity of the Uyghur people faces an unprecedented existential threat, the **East Turkestan Foundation** (Doğu Türkistan Vakfı) has officially launched a comprehensive global initiative. This campaign, titled the "Global Initiative for Uyghur Heritage and Human Rights," aims to serve as a definitive bulwark against the systematic erasure of Islamic life in East Turkestan. As of February 28, 2026, the Foundation has positioned itself at the forefront of a movement that transcends mere political advocacy, framing the struggle as a sacred duty for the global Muslim community (Ummah) to protect its brothers and sisters from what has been described as a "cultural and religious genocide" [Source](https://uyghurstudy.org).

Founded on the legacy of leaders like Isa Yusuf Alptekin, the Foundation is leveraging its historical roots in Istanbul to coordinate a multi-faceted strategy. This initiative comes at a critical juncture, following a series of alarming developments in early 2026, including the controversial engagement between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Beijing, which many in the diaspora have characterized as a betrayal of Islamic solidarity [Source](https://turkistanpress.com).

The "Guardians of Heritage" Program: Preserving the Islamic Soul

Central to the Foundation’s new initiative is the "Guardians of Heritage" program. This project focuses on the digital and physical preservation of Uyghur Islamic culture, which has been under sustained assault. According to recent reports, thousands of *Masajid* (mosques) and shrines have been demolished or repurposed into commercial spaces [Source](https://ihh.org.tr). The Foundation is now leading a global effort to create a "Digital Archive of the Ummah," a secure, decentralized database containing high-resolution architectural records of destroyed religious sites, digitized versions of rare Uyghur Islamic manuscripts, and recordings of traditional Uyghur *Adhan* (call to prayer) and Quranic recitation styles unique to the region.

Beyond digital preservation, the initiative emphasizes the continuity of the Uyghur language—the vessel of their religious and cultural history. In response to the criminalization of Uyghur-language education in East Turkestan [Source](https://ohchr.org), the Foundation is expanding its network of "Mother Tongue Schools" across the diaspora, particularly in Turkey, Europe, and North America. These schools do not merely teach language; they integrate Islamic education (*Tarbiyah*), ensuring that the next generation of Uyghurs remains rooted in their faith and identity despite being in exile.

Challenging the Silence: Advocacy in the Halls of Power

On the diplomatic front, the East Turkestan Foundation is intensifying its pressure on international bodies. A primary target of this advocacy is the **Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)**. On January 26, 2026, the OIC Secretary-General met with senior Chinese officials in Beijing to discuss "strengthening relations," a move that was met with fierce condemnation from the Foundation and other Uyghur organizations [Source](https://uyghurcongress.org). The Foundation’s new initiative seeks to mobilize grassroots pressure within OIC member states—such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Qatar—to demand that the organization uphold its charter, which mandates the protection of Muslim minorities worldwide.

Furthermore, the Foundation is working closely with the **United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC)**. During the HRC’s 61st session in February 2026, the Foundation supported calls for High Commissioner Volker Türk to provide a detailed update on the implementation of the 2022 UN report, which found that China’s actions in East Turkestan may constitute crimes against humanity [Source](https://campaignforuyghurs.org). The initiative aims to move beyond reports and toward a formal UN commission of inquiry, specifically focusing on the "Sinicization of Islam"—a policy that seeks to strip the religion of its core tenets and replace them with state-approved ideologies [Source](https://turkistanpress.com).

Data as a Weapon: The 2025 Human Rights Violations Index

A cornerstone of the Foundation’s evidence-based advocacy is the recently released **East Turkistan Human Rights Violations Index 2025**. Launched in Istanbul on February 16, 2026, this index provides a harrowing look at the "digital apartheid" currently enforced in the region [Source](https://uyghurtimes.com). The report documents how AI-supported mass surveillance and automated databases are used to profile Muslims as potential threats based on simple religious acts, such as possessing a Quran or having a beard [Source](https://uyghurtimes.com).

The Foundation is utilizing this data to brief international legal experts and human rights organizations. By quantifying the intensification of forced labor and the systematic separation of children from their families, the Foundation is building a legal framework for future accountability. The 2025 Index serves as a vital tool for the "Global Initiative," providing the empirical weight necessary to counter state-sponsored propaganda that paints the region as a model of "stability and development" [Source](https://scio.gov.cn).

The Geopolitics of the Ummah: A Call for Justice

From an authentic Muslim perspective, the East Turkestan Foundation’s initiative is not merely a political campaign; it is an appeal to the conscience of the global Ummah. The Foundation argues that the silence of many Muslim-majority governments is a geopolitical failure that undermines the moral authority of the Islamic world. In a consultation meeting held in Istanbul on January 24, 2026, leaders emphasized that the "East Turkestan cause is the national cause of the entire Muslim world" [Source](https://uygurnews.com).

The initiative highlights the hypocrisy of international relations where economic interests, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, are prioritized over the lives and dignity of millions of Muslims. The Foundation is calling for a "Halal Economy" approach, urging Muslim consumers and businesses to divest from companies complicit in Uyghur forced labor [Source](https://turkistanpress.com). This economic pressure is seen as a modern form of *Jihad*—a peaceful but firm struggle for justice (*Adl*) and the protection of the oppressed.

Conclusion: A Vision for a Free East Turkestan

As the East Turkestan Foundation moves forward with its global initiative, the vision remains clear: the restoration of the fundamental rights and religious freedoms of the Uyghur people. The campaign is a testament to the resilience of a community that refuses to be erased. By combining the preservation of heritage with rigorous international advocacy and a call for Ummah-wide solidarity, the Foundation is ensuring that the cry for justice from East Turkestan is heard in every corner of the globe.

The upcoming **Third Uyghur Summit** in Munich, scheduled for May 2026, will serve as the next major milestone for this initiative, bringing together leaders and allies to strategize for a future where East Turkestan can once again be a center of Islamic scholarship and culture [Source](https://uygurnews.com). For the global Muslim community, the message from the Foundation is simple: the struggle for East Turkestan is a struggle for the soul of the Ummah itself.