Ankara, Feb 10 (NationPress) A significant number of the approximately 50,000 exiled Uyghurs residing in Turkey, who fled from persecution in their homeland of North West China, particularly those lacking permanent citizenship and passports issued by Turkish authorities, now endure escalating fears of being forcibly returned to confront imprisonment, torture, and the wrath of Beijing. Individuals who managed to escape the recent surge of detentions and the 2016 internment in China's so-called “re-education camps” feel especially vulnerable, as reported on Tuesday.

As outlined in a report by the online publication 'Bitter Winter', Turkey, once considered a reliable ally and sanctuary for Uyghurs escaping Chinese persecution for decades, can no longer be deemed a safe refuge, following a series of arbitrary detentions, deportation threats, and baseless terrorism accusations.

Citing the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report 'Protected No More, Uyghurs in Turkey' by Yalkun Uluyol, it was revealed that Turkey's duplicity has been unveiled, with findings indicating that Uyghurs without Turkish citizenship are no longer assured of safety—this has been corroborated by recurring waves of apprehensions, including those involving women and children.

“Abduweli Ayup, an exiled Uyghur scholar, raised alarms about the detainment by Istanbul’s counter-terrorism unit of 31 Uyghurs, who were arrested during a mass roundup of suspected ISIS militants before New Year. The majority of these Uyghurs, who had been working and living peacefully in Turkey for over a decade, were taken into custody on December 24-25, 2025. Remarkably, they were released without charges following public outcries in their favor,” the report elaborated.

“A Uyghur mother and her one-month-old infant were also taken during the same incident along with other family members. While three of her other children were permitted to return home due to health concerns, Mueyesser Ali and her baby Enes Abdullah were sent to the Izmir Deportation Centre, fearing a forced repatriation to China. They were released after a week due to persistent legal challenges and public pressure, with no charges filed or reasons provided for their detention,” the report continued.

The report emphasized that Uyghurs in Turkey are pressured by the Chinese government to collaborate with state proxies, such as Chinese consulates and embassies, through threats directed at their families in China to gather information about fellow Uyghurs.

“Despite mourning for their homeland and families, whom they have little hope of reuniting with, many Uyghurs have endeavored to establish new lives in Turkey, some for over a decade. Their children are enrolled in schools, many have purchased homes, learned the language, and embarked on new careers,” it stated.

“However, many are beginning to realize that their safety is not as assured as they once believed. For numerous individuals, the shocking realization that they might be regarded as persona non grata and even labeled as terrorists at the behest of the Chinese state is a ticking time bomb,” it further noted.