Turkish embassies in Southeast Asia 'gave fake travel documents to Uygurs fleeing China'
Mainland media says Turkish embassies, consulate generals and related agencies in Southeast Asia knowingly gave proof of citizenship and passports to Chinese from Xinjiang
Turkish embassies in Southeast Asia have been accused of helping Uygurs from the restive Xinjiang region to flee from China by issuing questionable travelling documents, Chinese state media reported on Friday.
Citing the Ministry of Public Security, the Global Times, a tabloid newspaper affiliated to People’s Daily, said Chinese police and Southeast Asian countries’ law enforcement officials had faced “resistance and interference” from other countries in the course of their crackdown on illegal emigration.
“According to [human smugglers’] confessions, Turkish embassies, consulate generals and related agencies in Southeast Asia … knowingly processed proof of citizenship and issued passports and travel documents to Chinese people from Xinjiang,” the online report said.
“They even falsely claimed these Uygurs were their citizens and openly rescued and took them away,” the report added. “Such a practice opens the door for illegal emigration, violating local countries’ laws and international treaties.”
The Turkish embassy in China told South China Morning Post it could not immediately comment on the Times’ report.