Turkish Airlines has announced plans to begin scheduled flights to Ürümqi, the capital of China’s Xinjiang region, a move that has drawn criticism from Uyghur rights advocates who say it risks helping Beijing polish its image amid ongoing allegations of repression. While the airline’s filing described the route as a commercial decision “subject to market conditions,” human rights groups argue such links can bolster China’s campaign to portray Xinjiang as open and prosperous despite well-documented abuses.
The United Nations and major rights organizations have accused China of mass detentions, forced labor, and cultural suppression of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities—policies that some governments have labeled genocide. Critics say tourism and business ventures, like the new route, serve as tools of “genocide tourism,” masking human rights violations.
Turkey has deep cultural ties with the Uyghur people, yet Ankara’s growing economic relations with Beijing have coincided with mounting pressure on Uyghurs living in Turkey. Human Rights Watch recently reported increased residency restrictions and deportation risks for Uyghurs there. The Turkish government has also faced criticism after Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s 2024 visit to Xinjiang was seen as aligning with China’s propaganda narrative.
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