Uyghur Malik Ahmet, who had been residing in Dubai, was rescued at the last moment before being extradited to China and has safely entered Türkiye.
According to a statement by the Türkiye Uyghur Organizations Platform, Malik Ahmet, a Uyghur living in Dubai, had been held at a deportation center for three months by the United Arab Emirates security authorities because his passport was about to expire. Officials were reportedly preparing to send him to China via a transfer in Mumbai.
However, after arriving in Mumbai, India, Malik Ahmet obtained an electronic visa and purchased a ticket to Türkiye. Passing through airport controls, he arrived in Istanbul on Thursday, October 9, 2025. At Istanbul Airport, however, he was denied entry to the country on the grounds that his passport would expire within a week, and was officially notified that he would be sent back to Mumbai.
When the situation was learned by Hasan Abliz and Abdulhamit Karahan, executives of the Türkiye Uyghur Organizations Platform, the issue was conveyed to Prof. Dr. Kürşat Zorlu, Head of Relations with Turkic States at the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), as well as to officials from the Directorate of Migration Management. As a result of Prof. Dr. Zorlu’s direct intervention, Malik Ahmet—who was facing the danger of extradition to China—was granted entry into Türkiye.
Speaking to Uygur Haber (Uyghur News), Abdulhamit Karahan commented on the incident:
“The fact that our brother Malik Ahmet narrowly escaped being sent to China once again demonstrates Türkiye’s sensitivity and humanitarian approach toward oppressed peoples. Thanks to Prof. Dr. Kürşat Zorlu’s swift and determined efforts, the life of a Uyghur brother has been saved. We hope that this exemplary stance will continue with the same diligence and urgency in similar future cases. We highly value Türkiye’s sensitivity and support for Uyghurs.”
The rescue of Malik Ahmet highlights once again the ongoing risks faced by Uyghurs living abroad who are threatened with forced return to China. Türkiye’s timely action in this case not only saved a life but also reaffirmed its humanitarian stance and commitment to protecting the rights of oppressed peoples. It is hoped that similar sensitivity and urgency will continue to guide Türkiye’s approach in future cases involving Uyghurs at risk.
Be First to Comment