Editors: Fernanda Pasapera Zegarra, Gustavo Castillo and S. Al-Dazfa Chairan

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In the background of global news, there are stories that are often overlooked, and one of them is the hardships faced by the Uyghurs, a Muslim minority group in China’s Xinjiang region also known as East Turkestan. Many people are unaware of the extreme suffering they endure, which includes terror, torture, and tragedy.

Since early 2017, the Chinese government has escalated its repression of Uyghurs and other minority groups in Xinjiang through the establishment of numerous "re-education" camps. This repression goes far beyond simple human rights abuses.

Read more to find out the scale of the humanitarian crisis, historical context, and the once silenced voices of these survivors.

Photo by Kuzzat Altay on Unsplash

Historical Timeline of Uyghur Oppression

The 10th century: Islam and Arab Influence on the region

Arab influence arrived in the region, and by the 16th century most Uyghurs identified as Muslims.

According to a Chinese report, Islam was introduced to the region by force during a religious war in the 10th century, which marked the decline of Buddhism after centuries of presence in the region.[1]
Late 1750s to 1912: Qing Dynasty's Control of East Turkestan
During the Qing dynasty, East Turkestan was brought under Chinese control. [2]
In the late 19th century:
It was officially renamed Xinjiang, which means “new frontier” in Mandarin. [3]
1949: Annexation of XinjiangXinjiang was incorporated into the People's Republic of China following the Chinese Civil War.[4]
1955:Xinjiang is officially designated as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, but real autonomy remains minimal under Beijing's control.
1966: The Cultural Revolution in Xinjiang[5]

According to Coda story:

Mosques were either destroyed or repurposed as buildings for the Communist Party.
Religious texts and Uyghur language books were confiscated and burned as anti-revolutionary.
During this period, Mao sent millions of educated urban youth to rural areas for 're-education' through hard labour.
2001: Post-9/11 Terrorism JustificationThe global ‘War on Terror’ provides China a pretext to label Uyghur separatists as "terrorists," allowing for harsher repression under the guise of counterterrorism.[6] →Scroll down to notes, for more.
2014: "Strike Hard Campaign"China launches the "Strike Hard Campaign Against Violent Terrorism," intensifying efforts against Uyghur communities through mass surveillance and widespread detentions.[7]
2017: Mass Detention BeginsThe Chinese government detains up to one million Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in large camps for or intense surveillance.[8]
2022: UN Human Rights Report

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a report documenting abuses in Xinjiang, suggesting they may constitute crimes against humanity.[9]

Disclaimer: The text above offers only a brief overview of Uyghurs history. We encourage you to conduct your own research to gain a deeper understanding of the historical context and the injustices the Uyghurs have faced.

“Break their lineage, break their roots, break their connections, and break their origins. Completely shovel up the roots of “two-faced people,” dig them out, and vow to fight these two-faced people until the end.”

—Maisumujiang Maimuer, Chinese religious affairs official, August 10, 2017, on a Xinhua Weibo page

Only two words can describe the quote said by the Chinese religious affairs– ‘Cultural Erasure’.

Two words that encapture the lengthy quote. Two words to dehumanise millions of Uyghurs.

Despite being ‘only’ two words, it reflects a mission to systematically uproot Uyghur heritage and criminalise their very existence.

A City of Shadows: Systematic Persecution, Mass Detentions, and Disappearances

Since 2017, the Chinese government has detained between one and two million Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities.[10] These detentions were carried without legal procedures with individuals frequently arrested solely for practising their religion—whether that means praying or attending a mosque.[11]

Forced Acculturation and Cultural Erasure

The state has implemented policies aimed at erasing Uyghur culture and enforcing acculturation into Han Chinese society.[12] Uyghur women are forced into marriages with Han men, and children are forcibly separated from their families and placed in state-run institutions.[13] [14] Families are left in distress, often unaware of their loved ones’ whereabouts.

Furthermore, Uyghurs are systematically prohibited from speaking their native language and celebrating traditional festivals.[15]

The Vanishing Souls

The mass detentions and forced acculturation contribute to an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, where countless individuals simply vanish from public view. [16]

The Chinese government's tight control over information and lack of transparency have turned the Xinjiang region into a ‘City of Shadows’ where the true extent of persecution remains hidden.[17][18] The stories of those who have disappeared are often silence, leaving their fates unknown not only to their families but to the world.[19]

This cultural erasure is not merely an assault on individual rights; it is a calculated campaign to erase Uyghur identity and heritage.

Are We Ignoring the Bloodshed and Suffering, or Is It Simply Hidden from Us?

In a world flooded with information, it’s easy to overlook the suffering that doesn't dominate headlines. Yet, the question remains: are we turning our eyes and backs away, or is the truth being kept from us?

The risk of the Uyghur genocide being forgotten is alarming. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has not only hidden its atrocities in East Turkestan but has also launched a campaign to erase them from collective memory.[20]

“Genocide is an ongoing process. While it may physically end with the annihilation of a population, it persists in the memories of survivors, spanning generations. Therefore, for those responsible for genocide to disavow their culpability, they must eliminate all traces of its occurrence, including memories.” (Mamtimin Ala).

China has taken extensive measures to ensure the persecution of Uyghurs remains hidden by blanking out maps to obscure detention camps, strictly controlling what information comes in and out of Xinjiang and through diplomatic pressure.[21][22][23]

This calculated campaign of censorship and misinformation ensures that the true extent of the bloodshed and suffering remains concealed from the world.

Suffering such as from a China's concentration camp survivor, Mihrigul Tursun–

"I thought I would rather die than go through the torture and begged them to kill me”

Chaudhry, Anushay. “'They kill us here': Survivor of Uyghur concentration camps recounts torture.” The Pitt News, 2 September 2020,

It makes us wonder, Was it Truly 'Never Again,' or Just 'Never Again to be Known About'?

As we acknowledge her words, we must ask ourselves: how many voices like hers are we failing to hear? How much suffering is being buried in these detention camps, unnoticed by the world?

Inside the Camps: A Living Nightmare

Survivor testimonies and reports from human rights organisations reveal that conditions in these camps are dreadful. Detainees face sexual violence, including gang rapes and forced sterilizations.[24][25]

Inhumane practices such as organ harvesting and forced medical experimentation are also reported. Daily life is marked by political indoctrination, where detainees are forced to pledge allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and renounce their own culture.[26]

Voices of the Victims

“We had to stick our arms out through a small opening in the door[...]After our injections, we didn’t get our periods anymore.” – Gulbahar Jalilova [27]
“A young woman was forced to disrobe and then raped by several police officers in front of other prisoners.” – Sayragul Sauytbay[28]

The Silence of Sufferance

The Uyghur massacre is one of the forgotten human rights crises of our time.

The ongoing silence and inaction forms the bridge between life and death for millions of Uyghurs.

You Can Help:

Raise Awareness:
- Share information about the Uyghur crisis through social media, blogs, and community events to increase global awareness.
Support Organizations:

Notes

“Scholars have repeatedly pointed out that this small, under-resourced group has never been shown to have instigated violence in China or anywhere else in the world. In November 2020, the U.S. government removed ETIM from its terrorist list, because "for more than a decade, there has been no credible evidence that ETIM continues to exist."[29]
Special thanks to Olivier Kuc for their insightful contribution to the Historical Timeline section.

Global Response

United States: The U.S. has officially recognized the treatment of Uyghurs as genocide and has imposed sanctions on Chinese officials involved in these abuses. [30]
European Union: The EU initially negotiated the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) with China, but in light of human rights concerns in Xinjiang, the agreement has been suspended. European countries are increasingly vocal in their condemnation of China’s actions.[31]
France: In 2022, the French parliament passed a motion recognizing the Uyghur genocide. This motion calls for concrete actions against China and supports Uyghur residents in France.[32]
United Kingdom: The UK Parliament declared the treatment of Uyghurs as genocide in April 2021. This declaration is a crucial step in international efforts to address and halt the abuses occurring in Xinjiang.[33]

Message From R&M

When will it be enough? When will we take action? When will human rights become our priority? When? When? When?

Rights and Minds seeks to acknowledge the mental health aspects of this crisis. The ongoing violence has not only surpassed the physical rights but also deeply affected the minds of many young Uyghur survivors. Their experiences underscore the urgent need to address mental health alongside physical rights. [Read more about PTSD]

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Terror, Torture, and Tragedy: The Hidden Massacre of the Uyghurs