Turkish opposition politicians' Uyghur massacre comments anger China

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The Chinese embassy in Ankara responded to two Turkish politicians, Mayor Mansur Yavaş and Good (İYİ) Party leader Meral Akşener, after the two released messages commemorating the killing of Uyghurs by Chinese military forces in Baren township in 1990.

Ankara Mayor Yavaş had tweeted that the pain of the massacre in East Turkestan is felt today, 31 years later, as it was on the day of the incident and expressed his condolences for the deceased. 

"I remember our fellow kins who refused to bow down to Chinese captivity in the Baren Massacre,"Akşener said. "East Turkestan will surely be independent one day!"

"China strongly opposes and condemns any party's challenge of Chinese sovereignty. China reserves the right to give proportionate responses," the Chinese embassy tweeted in response to the two politicians. 

Following the tweet, China's ambassador to Ankara was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The "discomfort" caused by the embassy’s Twitter post was conveyed to Ambassador Liu Shaobin, said Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency. 

Although the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has failed to officially condemn China's mistreatment of Uyghurs, the minority's cause has widespread support among the Turkish population. 

Meanwhile, members of the ethnic minority continue their protests and call for help across Turkey, urging the Turkish government to assist their search for their loved ones in Chinese custody.

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