About Conference

From Past to Present, Oppressed and Assimilated Peoples Convened at OSTIM Technical University

Oppressed and assimilated peoples from past to present convened at OSTIM Technical University. The opening address of the conference, which featured representatives as speakers from East Turkestan, North and South America, Western Thrace, Arakan, Palestine, Bangsamoro, Africa, and the Balkan regions, was delivered by Cüneyt Yüksel, Chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Justice Commission.

"We Hear the Cries of People from All Corners of the World"

At the event organized at OSTIM Technical University, TBMM Justice Commission Chairman Cüneyt Yüksel, who delivered the opening address, stated his complete conviction that the conference would provide a comprehensive perspective for resolving the complex problems of today's world. Yüksel noted that they had gathered within the scope of the conference to seek answers to questions regarding what can be done to be the voice of oppressed peoples from all corners of the world, to fight for their rights, and to ensure justice, stating: "When we turn our eyes to all corners of the world, we hear the cries of people who suffer injustice and live under oppression."​

​

"Let Us Not Forget That When One Person's Rights Are Violated, All of Humanity Suffers"​

Bir İnsanın Hakkı Gasp Edildiğinde, Tüm İnsanlık İncinir

Emphasizing that today there are millions of people crushed under the mercilessness of genocide in Gaza, children struggling with hunger in Yemen and Arakan, people battling thirst in various corners of Africa, and those living under political oppression, Yüksel expressed that the list goes on and stressed that it must not be forgotten that when one person's rights are violated, all of humanity suffers. He stated that for this reason, being the voice of oppressed peoples is not only their duty but everyone's duty, and that we must contribute to building a more just world by struggling together.

Yüksel declared, "As the Republic of Turkey, the protection of the rights of all humanity, not just a handful of powerful individuals, is our fundamental principle," and expressed that supporting these people who sometimes find themselves in desperation and sometimes lose hope is our duty inherited from history, one from which we cannot turn away; and that they genuinely believe every person should have fundamental rights regardless of differences in race, language, religion, or geography.

"United Nations Security Council Permanent Members Have Neglected Their Commitments"​

Taahhütlerini İhmal Etti

Drawing attention to the fact that during the 76 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Organization, particularly the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, have neglected their commitments to securing the rights of oppressed peoples, Yüksel noted that their efforts have also failed. Yüksel stated that, like our Palestinian brothers and sisters subjected to Israeli oppression in Gaza, the UN has emerged as the greatest obstacle to the adoption of early and necessary decisions.

Emphasizing that the current international order cannot produce peace, stability, justice, and equality, Yüksel stressed that no order not founded upon justice can be permanent. In the continuation of his speech, Yüksel provided examples from oppressed peoples, including the Algerian Massacre, Arakan, the Srebrenica Massacre, and the Gaza Genocide. Addressing problems originating from the UN, Yüksel examined judicial processes. He concluded his speech with Dr. Martin Luther King's statement: "There can be no peace without justice."