Draft:Shukur Samsak

Shukur Samsak
Shukur Samsak
شۈكۈر سامساق
Chairman of the Swedish Uyghur Committe
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 2013
Interior Minister of the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 12 November 2023
Personal details
Born	15 December 1972 (age 51); Shayar, East Turkistan
Nationality	Swedish
Occupation	Uyghur independence activist

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Shukur Samsak (Uyghur: شۈكۈر سامساق; born 15 December 1972)^[1] is a Uyghur Swedish politician and East Turkistan independence activist. He is the chairman of the Swedish Uyghur Committe^[2] since 2013, and the Interior Minister of the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile since November 12, 2023.

Samsak was born in Aksu, East Turkistan, to a Uyghur revolutionary family. He embarked on his activist journey from a young age, passionately opposing China's oppression, aiming to restore the freedom and independence of East Turkistan. In 1999 the Chinese government issued an arrest warrant against many young Uyghur activists, including Samsak. Due to the situation, he had to hide within the country for a year before eventually escaping from East Turkistan in 2000.

Life journey[edit]

Samsak was born into a Uyghur revolutionary family in Shayar, Aksu in 1972. At the age of 17, he attended the Urumqi Unrest 1989, where thousands of Uyghurs and other Turkic people gathered to demonstrate for freedom, but the situation took a dark turn when the Chinese Army was dispatched to quell the protest, leading to the arrest of more than 150 individuals. Faced with this crackdown, people began fleeing the area, and so did Samsak.

Post-demonstration, Samsak had to hide for a week due to the difficult situation, before returning home. Samsak, who had pursued studies at the National Uyghur Medical College from 1992 to 1996, continued his activism during and after graduation. He actively participated in various organizations established in East Turkistan. During this time, he also engaged in business in East Turkistan, selling medicines and providing assistance to numerous individuals.

Despite his significant contributions and long-term residence in East Turkistan, Samsak never obtained an ID or citizenship during the 28 years he spent there. Following the events of 1996, when the Chinese government issued arrest warrants for many young Uyghur activists, including Samsak, he found himself a target. The arrest warrant against Samsak was officially issued in August, 1999.

To escape persecution, Samsak hid for a year before successfully fleeing East Turkistan at the end of the year 2000, making a risky and dangerous journey through Tibet and the Himalayas. After navigating through tough terrain, he finally made it to Nepal and walked across the Tibet–Nepal border. In Nepal, he lived for 2 and a half years, during which he applied for UNHCR refugee status, eventually receiving a refugee certificate after six months. In Nepal, he actively assisted Uyghurs imprisoned and facing difficulties, aiding their journey to Europe. Samsak also dedicated time to studying English and Urdu at a UNHCR-sponsored school in Nepal.

Facing challenges in Nepal, with fellow Uyghurs being sent back to East Turkistan despite having refugee certificates, Samsak was compelled to flee to India in 2003. In India, although his application for UNHCR refugee status was repeatedly denied, he persisted. After a year, he finally obtained his Refugee certificate but faced six months of extreme hardship with limited resources, studying IT and English at a UNHCR school.

With the support of UNHCR, he secured a one-time use passport and arrived in Sweden on November 5, 2005. Samsak continued his activism upon arrival, serving as the secretary of the Swedish Uyghur Committee from 2007 to 2009 and later as the signatory from 2009 to 2013. In 2013, he was elected as the Chairman of the Swedish Uyghur Committee, a position he holds to this day. His dedication persists, as he tirelessly raises awareness about the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan and strives to restore the freedom and independence of East Turkistan.