Turkish Police Detain Two Uyghur Women in Istanbul

Reported by: Ihsan Shukran

On September 18, 2024, at 4:00 AM, Turkish police raided a home in the Kanaria neighborhood of Istanbul’s Safa Koy district, detaining two Uyghur women: Rizwangul Abdulaziz and Munavvar Zebbullah.

Rizwangul, a 27-year-old first-degree disabled woman, cannot move the lower half of her body. She is also the mother of a 6-year-old son who suffers from epilepsy. Munavvar Zebbullah, living with her, has two children, including a 5-year-old disabled son and a 9-year-old daughter.

Both women, without family support, were discovered detained only two days after the incident. They are currently held at the Catalca deportation center for foreigners, with no legal representation or assistance. Their expenses were previously covered by Turkish and Uyghur organizations.

Uyghur Hope, a humanitarian aid group, has called on other organizations in Turkey to step in and help these detained Uyghurs. The community also appeals for the women’s cases to be resolved through legal channels and for their release if no crimes have been committed.