Many countries in the Middle East signed a UN document defending China's human rights record.[203][219][3] A spokesperson for the Turkish Foreign Ministry criticized the camps,[220] but Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later defended China during his visit there.[221] President Erdogan has attempted to turn east in search of allies while seeking membership in the Chinese-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization and is unlikely to cause disputes to interfere.[222] Iraq and Iran have also remained silent and have signed the document[223] while Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey have been accused of deporting Uyghurs to China.[224][225][226][227][228] The United Arab Emirates has formally defended China's human rights records.[229] These countries have appreciated China's respect for the principle of non-interference in other countries' affairs and have therefore placed significance on their economic and political relations.[222] Qatar supported China's policies in Xinjiang until August 21, 2019; Qatar was the first Middle Eastern country to withdraw its defense of the Xinjiang Camps.[230][231][232]