Uyghur immirants in Turkey : a home away fom home

Abstract

This study focuses on the Uyghur migrants who have immigrated to Istanbul from the People‘s Republic of China during the 1950s and how they relate to their experience of migration and their experience of living in Turkey while questioning their definition of ''homeland''. The sources for this work include diverse studies that examine migration issues form macro and micro perspectives as well as other works that define the historical background of Uyghur migration. The oral sources, on the other hand, have been collected through interviews with seventeen Uyghur migrants who have immigrated to Turkey during different ages and with different motivations. In this study, different periods of Uyghur migration are analyzed, revealing the causes of migration and the immigrants relationship with the host community during the concerned periods. Besides, using the narratives of the immigrants, their definition of Turkish identity and ''homeland'' are also discussed.