Istanbul [Turkey], December 5 (ANI): Uyghur and Turkish NGOs carried out protests in many parts of Turkey on Sunday to protest against the atrocities of Chinese authorities in the Xinjiang region under the pretext of controlling the Covid-19 pandemic.

The International Union of East Turkestan NGOs led by its leader Hidayetullah Oghuzhan held a large protest and made a press statement at 2:00 pm local time, in front of the Chinese Consulate in Sariyer, Istanbul. As per estimates around 1000-1200 persons including the elderly, women, and children participated in the protest.

"....Our Uyghur brothers are being systematically massacred by China....their houses are locked...under the pretext of pandemic....they are dying of hunger and disease...in the fire that broke out....our brothers were killed by burning in their houses, where they were trapped...," Chairman of Turkish NGO Yesevi Alperenler Association, Kursat Mican said.

Hidayetullah committed that the Uyghurs are prepared to sacrifice their being and their lives for East Turkestan's independence and they would continue their fight with perseverance.

East Turkestan New Generation Movement, a Turkiye NGO, the Young IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, and the Young IDSB-Union of NGOs of the Islamic World/Islam Duniyasi Sivil Toplum Kuruluslari Birligi also organized a prayer meeting earlier at the Istanbul Fatih Mosque. Uyghur leader Abdusselam Teklamekan, Muhammed Mematali, who lost four siblings in the Urumqi fire, and theologian Ahmet Bulut were among those who spoke.

Turkish NGO Anadolu Genclik Dernegi (AGD) had also given a call for protests in different places against the Chinese atrocities in East Turkestan.

AGD Istanbul Branch organized another protest and press release in the evening at 8:00 pm near the Chinese Consulate in Sariyer district. AGD activists led by Provincial President Mehmet Yaroglu, and Uyghurs protested against Chinese atrocities and genocide.

Bursa AGD local branch held a protest and press release following the morning prayer near the Bursa Ulucami Mosque. Taha Nargis, Chairman of the University Commission of AGD Bursa branch, made a statement and accused the 'imperial and murderer' Chinese state of carrying out "systematic massacres in East Turkestan ....our Uyghur brothers, sisters and children were martyred by not interfering in the fire that broke out recently," as per press statement.

AGD also organized post-prayer protests and press statements in other places including the capital Ankara (near Haji Bayram Veli Mosque), Adiyaman, Balikesir, Corum, Isparta, Kirsehir, Kutahya, Malatya, Mersin, Usak among others.

These protests have become more pronounced following the death of several Uyghurs in a residential building fire in Urumqi. (ANI)