Nov 27, 2025
Habibulla Izchi
Turkish journalist Yücel Tanay, who has been a prominent voice for the Uyghur community for many years, has been sentenced by the Istanbul Chief Public Court’s First Criminal Court to one year and eight months in prison on charges of “insulting.” He received the court ruling on November 19, and was informed that he must report to the Istanbul Chief Public Court within ten days to serve his sentence. If he fails to do so, an arrest warrant will be issued.
Yücel Tanay has published numerous reports and articles about Uyghurs and East Turkistan, which have reportedly drawn strong displeasure from China. According to reports, in early 2020, he published an article online titled “Mevlüde Aziz, Head of the China Women’s Society, Liaison with the Chinese Consulate.” The head of the Turkey-China Migrant Women’s Association, Mevlüde Aziz, repeatedly filed complaints against Yücel Tanay, citing this article in which he allegedly referred to himself as a “liaison with China, a traitor, and a Chinese spy.”
The court proceedings lasted nearly five years. Initially, Yücel Tanay was represented by the late Uyghur lawyer İlyas Doğan. The final verdict was announced on November 19. Yücel Tanay’s lawyers have indicated that the sentence may be carried out outside of prison.
In a statement following our visit, Yücel Tanay asserted that China is directly behind these legal complaints. He said: “The East Turkistan cause is a sacred one. We will never bow to China’s oppressive restrictions. This court ruling, nor the China sympathizers and their agents in Turkey, can ever silence our voices or pens, nor weaken our determination for the East Turkistan cause. The East Turkistan cause is sacred and an unshakable duty for us.”
This news article is an English translation of a piece originally published in the Uyghur edition of the Uyghur Post.
Hebibulla Izchi, Reporter and Writer, he Contributed to Tengritagh, Sada, and Azatliq Meshili in the 1990s and wrote for Tibetische Perspektive on Uyghur issues. Author of Kök Tashliq Archive – July 5 Massacre (in translation) and upcoming Kök Tashliq Archive – 2. Former reporter for Uyghur Agency and Radio Free Asia.
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