Who are China’s Uighur Minority? What’s happening with them?

The Uighurs, a Turkic-speaking ethnic group, have a long and rich history in the Xinjiang region of China. However, in recent years, their treatment by the Chinese government has become increasingly oppressive, sparking widespread international concern. The Chinese government’s treatment of the Uighurs has been widely condemned as a violation of human rights and basic freedoms. The situation also has broader implications for China’s relations with the rest of the world, including its economic partnerships and diplomatic relations. Therefore, understanding the Uighur situation is crucial for anyone interested in global human rights and geopolitics, not only for the Uighur people but for the international community as a whole.

This article will provide an overview of the history and culture of the Uighur people, as well as the current situation they face in China. We will also explore the Uighur diaspora and their efforts to raise awareness of the situation, as well as the international response to the Uighur crisis. By examining these issues, we hope to shed light on the plight of the Uighur people and the need for urgent action to address the human rights abuses they face.

Who are Uighurs Minority?

The Uighurs, also recorded as Uygur or Uighur in Chinese (Pinyin), is a Turkic-speaking ethnic group in interior Asia. The Uighurs are a predominantly Muslim ethnic group native to the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in northwest China, a small number also reside in the Central Asian republics. With a unique culture and language that sets them apart from the majority Han Chinese population. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, roughly ten million Uyghurs were located in China, with a further estimated three hundred thousand residing in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

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They speak the Uighur language, which is a Turkic language, and their culture has been shaped by their Central Asian heritage. Their cultural heritage includes music, dance, and art, as well as a long tradition of Islamic scholarship. However, the Chinese government’s policies aimed at assimilating the Uighurs into mainstream Chinese culture have threatened their cultural identity. These policies include promoting Mandarin Chinese over the Uighur language, restricting religious practices, and encouraging intermarriage between Uighurs and Han Chinese.

Historical and Cultural Background of the Uighurs in China

The Uighurs have a rich and complex history, culture, and religion that dates back over a thousand years. They have a unique identity shaped by their Central Asian heritage and their long-standing connection to the Silk Road trade route.

The Uyghurs are among the earliest Turkic-speaking groups in Central Asia, and the Uyghur language is a member of the Turkic family of Altaic languages. Chinese documents from the third century CE mention them. When they founded a kingdom along the Orhon River in what is now north-central Mongolia, they first gained notoriety in the eighth century. However, the Kyrgyz took control of this state in 840, and the Uyghurs moved southwest to the region near the Tien (Tian) Shan (“Celestial Mountains”). In the Turfan Depression region, the Uyghurs established another independent kingdom, but in the 13th century, the advancing Mongols overthrew it.

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The majority of the Uyghur population consists of sedentary village dwellers who inhabit the network of oases that have developed in the valleys and lower slopes of the Tien Shan, Pamirs, and other related mountain systems. Because the area is among the driest in the world, irrigation has been used for centuries to conserve water for farming. Wheat, corn (maize), kaoliang (a type of sorghum), and melons are their main food crops. Cotton, which has historically been grown in the region, is the main industrial crop. In urban areas, mining, manufacturing, and petroleum extraction employ a large number of Uyghurs.

The two main Uyghur cities are Kashgar (Kashi), an ancient trading hub on the historic Silk Road close to the Russian-Chinese border, and Ürümqi, the capital of Xinjiang. Except for a brief period during the 19th century when they were in revolt against Beijing, the Uyghurs have not had political unity in recent centuries. The village serves as the focal point of their social structure. Xinjiang’s Uyghurs are Sunni Muslims.

During the 20th century, the Chinese government implemented policies to assimilate the Uighurs into mainstream Chinese culture. This included the promotion of Mandarin Chinese over the Uighur language, restrictions on religious practices, and a push for intermarriage between Uighurs and Han Chinese. These efforts aimed to erase the Uighurs’ distinct cultural identity and assimilate them into the dominant Han Chinese culture.

Despite these efforts, Uighur separatist movements emerged in the 20th century, calling for greater autonomy or even independence for Xinjiang. These movements were often met with harsh suppression by the Chinese government, leading to tension and violence between the Uighurs and the Chinese authorities.

Han (ethnic Chinese) began moving into Xinjiang in the 1950s and by the late 20th century, the Han constituted two-fifths of the population. In 2009, a violent outbreak occurred in Ürümqi, in which nearly 200 people (mostly Han) were killed and some 1,700 were injured. Chinese authorities responded by cracking down on Uyghurs suspected of being dissidents and separatists and implemented a crackdown on them in 2017. In 2018, the United Nations called upon China to end the detention, but government officials denied the existence of the camps. This was met with protests from human rights organizations.

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In recent years, the Chinese government has intensified its efforts to control the Uighur population, leading to human rights abuses and the suppression of Uighur culture and identity. The government has detained over a million Uighurs in what they call “re-education camps” and has implemented strict surveillance measures in the region. These actions have been widely criticized by the international community, with many calling for an end to human rights abuses and greater protection for the Uighurs.

Current situation of the Uighurs in China

The Uighur ethnic group has faced severe persecution by the Chinese government in recent years. The Chinese Communist Party’s policies towards the Uighurs have become increasingly repressive since the early 2000s, with a particular escalation in the last decade. The Chinese government has implemented a range of measures, including mass surveillance and detention, to quell any form of dissent and control the Uighur population.

Human rights violations against the Uighurs have been widely documented, including forced labor, forced sterilization, and cultural erasure. Uighurs have been forced to work in factories producing goods for international brands, often under exploitative conditions. Women have been subjected to forced sterilization and birth control, and traditional Uighur culture and religion have been systematically suppressed.

Uighurs Concentration Camp

When Uyghurs living outside of China began to lose contact with family members in April 2017, the concentration camps began to take shape. Although the Chinese government claims that these facilities are needed to combat extremism and terrorism, many Uighurs and international human rights organizations have described them as concentration camps where detainees are subjected to forced labor, torture, and political indoctrination.

Since 2017, the Chinese government has detained over one million Uighurs and other ethnic minority groups in “re-education” or “vocational training” camps. By 2019, nearly every Uyghur diaspora family had a missing relative or loved one who had presumably disappeared into the camps. Uyghurs end up in camps for a variety of reasons, including having contact with relatives abroad, returning from studies in Muslim-majority countries, or using more electricity than is typical.

Inmates at the camp are detained indefinitely and without charge, and they are forced to attend indoctrination classes aimed at eroding their distinct religious, cultural, and ethnic identities. They are fed very little throughout the day, housed in overcrowded cells, and detained illegally, with no legal representation allowed throughout the arrest and incarceration process. 

Reporting from Human Rights Watch, independent researchers, and testimony of camp survivors who managed to flee their homeland, despite extremely strict travel restrictions on anyone visiting or living in the region, give a good indication of the extent to which the Uyghur population is being repressed and provide a glimpse into life inside the camps.

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Numerous Uyghurs have died in the camps, and there have been countless cases of torture. These deaths include prominent Uyghur scholar and religious leader Muhammad Salih Hajim, who passed away in January 2018 at age 82, two young Uyghurs who died in custody under suspicious circumstances in December 2017, a teenager who passed away under mysterious circumstances in March 2018, another who was forced to commit suicide in February 2018, and Ayhan Memet, the mother of WUC President Dolk. There were reportedly 26 fatalities in a camp in Hotan prefecture in June 2018.

Many notable Uyghurs, including Adil Mijit, a 55-year-old famous Uyghur comedian, who simply disappeared in Urumqi in November 2018, Abdulqadir Jalaleddin, a well-known Uyghur professor and poet, who was detained on January 29, 2018, Ablajan Ayup, a 34-year-old Uyghur pop singer who was detained on February 15, 2018, after he returned from Shanghai, and Obulkasim Haji, the 67-year-old owner of the Kasir Hotel in Kashgar, who was detained around December 5, 2017.

The concentration of Uyghur academics and writers in the camps is a significant increase in ethnic repression. The internationally renowned folklorist Rahile Dawut, the literature professors Abdukerim Rahman, Azat Sultan, and Gheyretjan Osman, the language professor Arslan Abdulla, and the poet Abdulqadir Jalaleddin are among those who have disappeared. Erkin Omer, the president of Kashgar University, and Muhter Abdughopur, the vice president, were both removed from their positions; it is unknown where they are now. In contrast, Halmurat Ghopur, the former head of the Xinjiang Medical University Hospital, and Tashpolat Tiyip, the former president of Xinjiang University, were each given suspended death sentences.

The number of Uyghurs being detained without charge in various political indoctrination camps in 2019 is estimated to be between 1-3 million. The Chinese authorities changed their position from their initial denial of the existence of such camps to reframing them as “vocational training facilities” in August 2018 despite credible reports of torture and inhumane and degrading treatment by people who had been held in the camps after the issue had been widely covered by the press and by academics. Despite the fact that among the prisoners are successful business people, Uyghur celebrities, and academics, the Chinese government asserts that the Uyghurs and other ethnic Muslim minorities native to the area—such as Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and Tatars—are receiving vocational skills training to improve their chances of finding employment.

Additionally, there have been reports of discrimination, unequal access to healthcare, and food shortages in Uighur-majority areas as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted the Uighurs. In these regions, the Chinese government’s response to the pandemic has been characterized by strict lockdowns and a heavy-handed strategy that further restricts the Uighur people’s rights and freedoms.

Uighur diaspora and their efforts to raise awareness

The Uighur diaspora is a scattered community of Uighurs who have fled China in the face of persecution and discrimination. Many Uighurs have resettled in countries such as Turkey, the United States, and Germany, where they have formed communities and continue to advocate for the rights of their fellow Uighurs back home.

One of the most significant challenges facing Uighur exiles is the trauma of forced separation from their families and communities. Many Uighurs have lost contact with their loved ones in Xinjiang, and some have faced harassment and intimidation by Chinese authorities abroad. Despite these challenges, Uighur diaspora communities have organized themselves to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis in Xinjiang and to advocate for the rights of the Uighur people.

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Social media and other digital platforms have played a crucial role in these efforts, allowing Uighur activists to connect with each other and with the wider world. In recent years, Uighur activists have used Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms to share news, images, and first-hand accounts of the situation in Xinjiang. Some have also launched campaigns to pressure governments and companies to take action against Chinese human rights abuses in the region.

In addition to digital activism, Uighur diaspora communities have organized protests, vigils, and other events to raise awareness of the situation in Xinjiang. In the United States, for example, Uighur activists have held demonstrations outside the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., and have also organized rallies in other cities. Similarly, Uighur communities in Turkey have organized protests and other events to draw attention to the situation in Xinjiang.

Despite the challenges facing the Uighur diaspora, their efforts have played an essential role in raising awareness of the ongoing crisis in Xinjiang. Through their activism, Uighur exiles have put pressure on governments and companies to take action against Chinese human rights abuses, and have also helped to ensure that the world does not forget about the plight of the Uighur people.

International Response to the Uighur Crisis

The Uighur crisis has garnered significant international attention, with various governments, organizations, and human rights groups expressing their concerns about the situation. In this section, we will explore the international response to the Uighur crisis, highlighting the actions taken by different countries and organizations.

Response of Western governments

Response of Western governments, including the United States and the European Union Western governments have been at the forefront of condemning the Chinese government’s treatment of the Uighurs. The United States and the European Union have both issued strong statements, with the US government imposing various sanctions against Chinese officials and companies implicated in human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The US has also declared the treatment of Uighurs as genocide. The European Union has also imposed sanctions on Chinese officials and entities involved in the Uighur crisis.

Response of Muslim-majority countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

The response of Muslim-majority countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has been more muted. While some countries, such as Turkey and Malaysia, have expressed their concerns about the situation, others, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have been silent on the matter. The OIC has issued statements expressing concern about the situation but has not taken any concrete action.

Role of International Organizations.

International organizations including the United Nations and human rights groups have been active in raising awareness about the Uighur crisis. The United Nations has called for an independent investigation into the situation in Xinjiang, but no action has been taken yet. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented the human rights violations against the Uighurs and have called for an end to the persecution.

The Future outlook for the Uighur Minority in China

The future outlook for the Uighur minority in China is uncertain and raises concerns about their well-being. Chinese policies towards the Uighurs have included mass surveillance, detention in “re-education” camps, forced labor, forced sterilization, and cultural erasure. The potential long-term consequences of such policies are alarming, including the loss of Uighur cultural identity and language, as well as the continued violation of their human rights.

Prospects for change in Chinese policies towards the Uighurs are uncertain, as the government has shown no signs of relenting in its efforts to suppress the Uighur minority. However, the Uighur diaspora and their efforts to raise awareness of the crisis have garnered international attention and support. The role of international pressure on China remains a potential factor in shaping the future of the Uighur minority.

Western governments, including the United States and the European Union, have imposed sanctions on Chinese officials and companies involved in the suppression of the Uighurs. Muslim-majority countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have also raised concerns about the treatment of Uighurs in China. International organizations, including the United Nations and human rights groups, have called for action to address the Uighur crisis.

Call to action for the international community to address the Uighur crisis

The Uighur crisis in China is a complex issue that involves historical, cultural, and political factors. The Chinese government’s policies towards the Uighurs in the 21st century have been marked by mass surveillance, detention in “re-education” camps, forced labor, forced sterilization, and cultural erasure. The Uighur diaspora has been active in raising awareness of the situation and sharing their experiences with the world.

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The international community’s response to the crisis has been mixed, with Western governments and human rights groups calling for action, while Muslim-majority countries have been relatively silent. There is a potential for long-term consequences of Chinese policies toward the Uighurs, and the prospects for change in Chinese policies are uncertain. However, international pressure may have an impact on China’s stance towards the Uighur minority.

It is important for the international community to address the Uighur crisis and hold China accountable for human rights violations. This includes calling for an end to the detention camps and forced labor, supporting the Uighur diaspora, and working towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The Uighur situation in China is a pressing issue that demands attention and action from all nations that value human rights and dignity.