A meeting in Ankara called for the nomination of Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti for the Nobel Peace Prize, highlighting his peaceful struggle and urging international action for his freedom.
At a meeting held in Ankara, a strong call was made for the nomination of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ilham Tohti for the Nobel Peace Prize. Representatives of civil society organizations and academics emphasized that Tohti’s peaceful struggle has become a universal symbol of human rights and called on the international community to take action.
A notable meeting was organized in Ankara to support the nomination of Uyghur academic and economist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ilham Tohti for the Nobel Peace Prize. The meeting was jointly organized by the Ilham Tohti Initiative Movement, the Isa Yusuf Alptekin Foundation, and the Yesevi Movement, and was held on January 28, 2026, at the Meyra Palace Hotel in Ankara. Civil society representatives, academics, and members of the press attended the event.
During the meeting, participants discussed Tohti’s academic and civic activities carried out within the framework of freedom of thought, as well as the human rights violations taking place in East Turkistan. Ilham Tohti was arrested in 2014 in Pekin, the capital of China, and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
“ILHAM TOHTI IS A UNIVERSAL SYMBOL OF CONSCIENCE”
Enver Can, President of the Ilham Tohti Initiative Movement, stated that Tohti has become not only a symbol of conscience for the Uyghur people, but also one of the moral symbols of the universal human rights struggle. Can emphasized that awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Tohti would represent a global affirmation of seeking rights without resorting to violence and of a form of resistance grounded in the rule of law.
Can underlined that stronger support from academic circles and intellectuals is of vital importance both for Tohti’s freedom and for the pursuit of peaceful solutions to the Uyghur issue.
THE “GOOD CITIZEN – BAD CITIZEN” PRACTICE IMPOSED ON UYGHUR TURKS
Miraç Gür, Ankara Chair of the Yesevi Movement, drew attention to the surveillance and repression imposed on Uyghur Turks in China. Gür stated that software is forcibly installed on Uyghurs’ mobile phones, enabling authorities to monitor all personal data and track every activity, from messaging to internet usage.
Gür explained that these practices are transformed into a scoring mechanism through the so-called “social credit system,” adding that Uyghur Turks are classified as “bad citizens” based on their religious identity, cultural preferences, and the websites they visit.
“EVEN IF THE NOBEL PRIZE IS POLITICAL, TOHTI DESERVES IT”
Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Dr. Ömer Kul stated that although the Nobel Peace Prize has a political dimension, Ilham Tohti fully deserves the award because of his stance, the suffering he has endured, and his unwavering commitment to a peaceful struggle.
Kul noted that granting the prize could help save a human life and enable a dignified existence. He warned that if assimilation policies in East Turkistan continue, within the next 15–20 years there may be no people left in the region who can say, “I am Uyghur.”
A CALL FOR FREEDOM TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
At the meeting, initiatives aimed at nominating Ilham Tohti for the Nobel Peace Prize were shared with the public. Participants agreed that such a nomination would increase international visibility of the repression in East Turkistan and strengthen calls for peaceful solutions.
Civil society representatives emphasized the need for a stronger and more coordinated call to the international community for Tohti’s release. Officials stressed that Tohti’s freedom is not merely an individual human rights issue, but one of critical importance for the future of millions of Uyghurs and other Turkic communities.
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