The Uyghur Community in India

Mission

• Strengthen the Uyghur community in India.

• Promote awareness of East Turkistan and its struggle for freedom.

• Support human and political rights, self-determination, and the decolonization and independence of East Turkistan.

• Build stronger India–East Turkistan ties.

• Conduct educational, political, and advocacy programs in India and South Asia.

The Indian Uyghur Society (IUS), established in 2024, is a non-profit organization representing the Uyghur community in India. Founded through the collective efforts of Uyghur families and community leaders, IUS works to strengthen community unity, preserve Uyghur identity, and promote awareness of East Turkistan’s history, culture, and ongoing struggle for independence. The organization also aims to foster stronger ties between India and East Turkistan.

The Indian Uyghur Society reaffirms its commitment to advancing the East Turkistan cause and shall engage and cooperate exclusively with Uyghur organizations, entities, or individuals that explicitly support East Turkistan’s independence. Through advocacy, outreach, educational programs, and cultural initiatives, IUS ensures that the Uyghur community’s voice is recognized and their rights are defended.

The relationship between East Turkistan and India spans millennia, rooted in trade, cultural exchange, and movement along the ancient Silk Road. Uyghur merchants and travelers historically journeyed to regions such as Ladakh, Kashmir, and North India, forming long-standing commercial and cultural ties that connected the peoples of both countries.

Following the Chinese takeover of East Turkistan in 1949, a significant wave of Uyghurs fled the region in search of safety. During this period, approximately 11,500 Uyghurs crossed the mountains into Kashmir. While many later resettled in countries such as Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, some families chose to remain in India, where they contributed to local communities and continued to preserve their identity.

Today, India is home to a small but resilient community of around 600 Uyghurs, primarily residing in Jammu & Kashmir, with others scattered across the country. Despite their small numbers, they maintain their cultural heritage, their historical connection to East Turkistan, and their long-standing ties with India.

The Indian Uyghur Society represents this community, supports their social and cultural needs, raises awareness about East Turkistan, and works to strengthen the historic ties between India and East Turkistan.

About the IUS

Vision

To empower and represent the Uyghur community in India, safeguard their rights and identity, and advance the cause of East Turkistan’s independence. The Indian Uyghur Society envisions a future where the Uyghur people live with dignity and freedom, while fostering lasting friendship and cooperation between India and East Turkistan.

Our team

Wasim Abdullah

President

Talat Feroz

General Secretary

Kherun Nissa

Treasurer

Mohammad Shafi Lassu

Advisor

Excerpt from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Address at Nazarbayev University (July 7, 2015)

Quoting Uyghur poet Abdurehim Otkur

“Our tracks remain, our dreams remain, everything remains, far away yet.
Even if the wind blows, or the sand shifts, they will never be covered—our tracks.
And the caravan will never stop along the way, though our horses are very thin.
One way or another, these tracks will be found someday by our grandchildren,
or our great-grandchildren.”

— Abdurehim Otkur