European East Turkestan Union Launches New Campaign to Raise Uyghur Issue Internationally and Increase Pressure on China

Introduction: A New Journey Against Oppression

As 2026 begins, the struggle for freedom of the people of East Turkestan has reached a new peak on the international stage. The "European East Turkestan Union" has announced a large-scale new campaign aimed at bringing the Uyghur issue to the global agenda, exposing China's systematic genocide, and increasing international pressure. This campaign is being conducted in coordination with the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, with the goal of making the voice of the Uyghurs—an integral part of the Islamic Ummah—heard more powerfully by the world [Source](https://www.ishr.ch/news/rights-groups-urge-high-commissioner-to-address-chinas-deepening-repression).

Iftar Event in Munich: A New Bridge for Diplomacy and Cooperation

On February 22, 2026, the European East Turkestan Union organized a large-scale Iftar reception in Munich, Germany. This event was not merely a religious gathering but served as a bridge for dialogue and cooperation between European politicians, religious leaders, community representatives, and the Uyghur cause [Source](https://uygurnews.com/uyghur-iftar-reception-in-munich-fosters-dialogue-and-solidarity-amidst-calls-for-advocacy/).

During the gathering, leaders of the Union provided detailed accounts of China's policies involving the destruction of mosques in East Turkestan, the detention of religious scholars, and the erasure of Islamic identity. It was emphasized that as members of the Islamic Ummah, the violation of Uyghurs' rights to freely practice their faith is a shared pain and responsibility for the entire Muslim world.

Struggle at the UN: Demanding Justice

The European East Turkestan Union, along with other Uyghur organizations, called on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to take a firmer stance against China's crimes against humanity. In a statement released on February 24, 2026, it was highlighted that since the UN's 2022 report on the Uyghur region, China's persecution has become even more systematic, particularly with the continued detention of religious leaders and intellectuals [Source](https://www.ishr.ch/news/rights-groups-urge-high-commissioner-to-address-chinas-deepening-repression).

Concerns regarding the fate of 40 Uyghur Muslims forcibly returned to China by Thailand in February 2025 were brought back to the agenda in late February 2026. UN experts described the lack of information on their whereabouts as "international oppression" [Source](https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/02/chinas-silence-deepens-fears-over-disappeared-uyghur-returnees-year-warn-un-experts). The European East Turkestan Union aims to increase economic and political pressure on China by raising this issue in the European Parliament.

Challenges in Europe: Transnational Repression and Surveillance

China's oppression is not limited to East Turkestan; it also threatens the Uyghur community in Europe. According to reports revealed in February 2026, Chinese authorities have pressured Uyghur activists in Paris, attempting to force them into espionage [Source](https://www.uyghurcongress.org/en/weekly-brief-20-february-2026/). Simultaneously, the widespread use of Chinese surveillance technologies like Hikvision and Dahua in public spaces in Germany has severely impacted the sense of security among Uyghurs in Europe.

The European East Turkestan Union has launched a legal struggle against this "transnational repression," calling on European countries to protect Muslim citizens on their soil from Chinese threats. This struggle is seen as a vital part of protecting Islamic brotherhood and human rights.

Responsibility of the Islamic Ummah: Standing as One

The East Turkestan issue is not just a political matter; it is a test of faith and conscience for the entire Islamic Ummah. China's "Strike Hard" campaign, conducted under the guise of "counter-terrorism," is in reality an effort to Sinicize Islam and force Muslims to renounce their faith [Source](https://east-turkistan.net/etge-calls-for-global-action-as-the-beijing-regime-institutionalizes-normalized-genocidal-control-in-east-turkistan/).

The European East Turkestan Union urges Muslim nations and international Islamic organizations not to be deceived by China's false propaganda, but rather to stand by their oppressed brothers and sisters. Based on the spirit of the Quranic verse "The believers are but brothers," stopping the oppression in East Turkestan is considered an obligation for every Muslim.

Historical Legacy and Future Outlook

The people of East Turkestan established independent republics twice, in 1933 and 1944, which serve as symbols of the Uyghur aspiration for freedom and justice [Source](https://www.tibetrightscollective.in/news-v-reviews/east-turkistan-national-day-uyghur-struggle-for-self-determination). The new campaign launched by the European East Turkestan Union aims to revive this historical spirit and remind the international community that East Turkestan is a "colony."

May 2026 marks the 12th anniversary of China's genocidal campaign labeled the "People's War on Terror." The Union plans to hold demonstrations and political lectures in various European capitals to mark this occasion. The goal is to prevent the "normalization" of China's crimes and to ensure that justice prevails.

Conclusion: Oppression Will Not Last Forever

The new campaign by the European East Turkestan Union has once again proven that the East Turkestan cause is a global cause for humanity and the Ummah. Despite China's economic power and political pressure, it is impossible to silence the voice of truth. Only when the Muslim world and the international community act together will the concentration camps in East Turkestan be closed and the Uyghur people regain their freedom. Fighting for justice is both a human and a religious duty.