CUS Press Release
For Immediate Release
November 12, 2025
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Today, November 12, 2025, marks the 92nd anniversary of the Islamic Republic of East Turkistan (1933–1934) and the 81st anniversary of the Republic of East Turkistan (1944–1949), two defining moments in the modern history of the Uyghur people and the broader region of Central Asia.
The declaration of the First Republic in Kashgar on November 12, 1933, represented a collective effort by Uyghur and other Turkic Muslim leaders to safeguard their faith, dignity, and community life during a time of deep uncertainty. Though short-lived, it embodied the hope of building a society guided by justice and rooted in human dignity.
A decade later, the Second Republic of East Turkistan was established in Ghulja on November 12, 1944. Its founders sought to preserve cultural and religious freedom while promoting education, equality, and peaceful coexistence among all peoples of the region. Both republics were ultimately crushed through Stalin’s direct involvement, leading to the loss of independence and the beginning of renewed Chinese invasion. Yet, their legacy of faith, perseverance, and unity continues to inspire the Uyghur people across generations.
As we commemorate these anniversaries, the Center for Uyghur Studies also draws attention to the ongoing genocide and religious persecution in East Turkistan. Since 2017, millions of Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims have been subjected to arbitrary detention, forced labor, family separation, and the systematic destruction of mosques and Islamic institutions. Acts of devotion such as fasting, prayer, and wearing traditional dress have been criminalized under the Chinese Communist Party’s repressive policies.
“The anniversaries of the East Turkistan Republics remind us of a time when our people could openly live by their faith and traditions,” said Executive Director Abdulhakim Idris. “Today, that same faith is being targeted for eradication. Today, the Uyghurs stand at the brink of existence, facing an existential threat. Remembering this history strengthens our moral duty to speak for those who cannot.”
On this solemn occasion, CUS calls on the international community, policymakers, and people of conscience to remember the sacrifices of past generations and to stand in solidarity with the Uyghur people facing persecution.
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