Welcome to the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement
The East Turkistan National Awakening Movement (ETNAM) is a nonviolent movement to end China’s occupation and oppression in East Turkistan. Our goal is to restore East Turkistan’s Independence as a democratic, open, pluralistic Republic guaranteeing Human Rights and Freedom for all. ETNAM is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit human rights and political rights organization based in Washington, DC.
Who are the Uyghurs?
With a history of over 6000 years, the Uyghurs are an ethnically Turkic people living mostly in East Turkistan and Central Asia. The Uyghurs are predominantly Muslims practicing a moderate form of Islam. There are an estimated 30 million Uyghurs living in East Turkistan and abroad. Chinese sources generally under estimate the population of the Uyghurs and put the number around 12 million. The Uyghurs are the most persecuted people today
Where is East Turkistan?
East Turkistan, located in the very center of Asia, is the historical Homeland of the Uyghurs and other Turkic Central Asian peoples. East Turkistan has effectively been occupied by China since December 22, 1949. East Turkistan neighbors nine countries – Mongolia (including South Mongolia), Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Tibet. East Turkistan is referred to as “Xinjiang (New Territory)” by China.
The East Turkistan Issue
Under decades of Chinese occupation and colonization since 1949, East Turkistan and its people are under severe threat of being eradicated as China’s government continues to deliberately carry out genocidal policies designed to eradicate all aspects of East Turkistan and its peoples. Today over 3 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, and other Turkic peoples of East Turkistan are being held in concentration camps and prisons.
