The Untold Oppression of Uyghur Muslims Hidden by China

Who Are the Uyghurs?

The Uyghurs are a Turkic Muslim group who live in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwest China. Over more than a thousand years, they’ve built a strong culture, faith, and language that are different from the Han Chinese majority. Traditionally, Uyghur Muslims have lived in the green oases of the Tarim Basin, making their living as traders and farmers along the old Silk Road.

Population and Where They Live

Uyghur Population in Xinjiang:
- China officially reports that there are just over 12 million Uyghurs, making up about 45–50% of Xinjiang’s total population of 25.8 million. Wikipedia
- However, independent experts estimate the actual number could be between 12 and 15 million.
Where Uyghurs Live:
- About 80% of Uyghurs live in the Tarim Basin in southern Xinjiang. The rest mostly live in cities like Ürümqi, Karamay, Ghulja, and Turpan.
- Smaller Uyghur communities can also be found in other parts of China, such as Hunan, as well as in countries like those in Central Asia, Turkey, and others around the world.
Demographic Trends:
- Since the 1950s, the Chinese government has encouraged Han Chinese people to move into areas where Uyghurs live. This has made the Uyghurs a smaller part of the population, especially in cities.
- Uyghurs still make up the majority of the population in rural areas of southern Xinjiang. However, in many northern cities and key parts of the economy, Han Chinese are the dominant group. Refworld
Genetic and Cultural Diversity:
- Uyghurs have a diverse origin. About one-third comes from West Eurasian roots, another third from East Asian, with smaller influences from South Asian and Siberian groups. This mix reflects centuries of cultural exchange along the Silk Road.

Historical Background

Ancient Roots:
- The Uyghurs established the Uyghur Khaganate (744–840 AD), a powerful Central Asian empire.
- Over many years, the Uyghur communities living in desert areas with water were sometimes independent and sometimes ruled by Chinese, Mongol, or Tibetan leaders.
Islamization:
- Uyghurs started converting to Islam in the 10th century. By the 16th century, Islam became a key part of their identity and culture.
- Islam and the Uyghur language, together with a long history of stories and writing, are very important parts of Uyghur history.
Modern History:
- In the 18th century, the Qing dynasty took control of Xinjiang and made it part of China.
- During the 20th century, Uyghurs briefly created two independent East Turkestan Republics (1933–34 and 1944–49), but both were stopped by Chinese and Soviet forces.

The Modern Era

Communist Rule:
- Since 1949, Xinjiang has been called an “autonomous region,” but in reality, it is strongly controlled by the central government.
- The government has promoted Han Chinese people to move there, supported economic growth, and pushed for cultural blending.
- Today, Han Chinese mostly live in cities and hold many jobs in businesses and government, while Uyghurs mostly live in rural areas in southern Xinjiang.

The Chinese Campaign of Oppression

Mass Detentions and Imprisonment Camps

Since 2017, China has detained more than 1 to 2 million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in a large system of “vocational training centers,” which are actually detention camps. HRW
Purpose:
- Officially, China says these camps offer “job training” and help stop extremism.
- But in reality, people held there face forced political brainwashing, torture, and are pressured to give up Islam.
International Consensus:
- Human rights groups and UN reports say these actions are crimes against humanity and, in some cases, even genocide.

Forced Separation and Brainwashing of Children

Child Separation:
- Nearly 500,000 Uyghur children have been taken away from their families, many have been detained, gone missing, or separated due to their parents being held in camps.
- Even when their parents are still alive but detained, these children are placed in state-run orphanages and boarding schools.
Conditions:
- The Uyghur language and Islamic practices are banned, and children are punished for speaking Uyghur or following their faith.
- Instead, they are forced to learn Standard Chinese language and Communist Party beliefs, with the goal of wiping out their Uyghur identity and connection to Islam.
- Many schools are tightly controlled, surrounded by barbed wire and heavy surveillance, making them feel more like prisons than places to learn.
Evidence:
- Leaked Chinese government documents and investigations by groups like the BBC, The New York Times, and Human Rights Watch have confirmed these abuses.

Psychological and Physical Abuse

Reports say people in the detention centers face severe physical punishment and mental suffering, which hurts them and their families for a long time.

Physical Abuse

Beatings and Torture:
- Detainees face harsh physical punishments, such as being beaten with electric batons and rubber straps, forced to hold painful positions, and being tied up or chained for a long time. CDT
Use of “Tiger Chairs”:
- People have been locked into “tiger chairs,” which are devices that keep them stuck in painful positions for a long time. Some have been left in these chairs for many hours, leading to physical injuries. ChinaFile
Medical Neglect:
- Reports show that detainees with serious health problems, like diabetes or heart disease, often don’t get enough medical help. This can make their health worse or even cause death. RFA
Forced Sterilization and Birth Control:
- Reports from the Associated Press and Human Rights Watch show that Uyghur women are being forced to use birth control, have surgeries so they can’t have children, or risk being sent to jail if they refuse. AP
Overcrowding and Poor Conditions:
- The facilities are often very crowded, and detainees have to sleep in small, tight spaces. Cleanliness is poor because there are few showers, and the surroundings are dirty.

Psychological Abuse

Forced indoctrination:
- Detainees are made to go through strict political training, which includes being forced to memorize Communist Party slogans and songs that praise Chinese leaders. Wikipedia
Psychological Torture:
- People say they are made to write self-criticisms and go through mental pressure meant to break their spirit and erase their culture. Pulitzer Center
Isolation and Single-Cell Detention:
- Detainees, especially women, have been put in isolated cells for small mistakes, causing them serious mental suffering. Pulitzer Center
Forced Birth Control:
- Many Uyghur women who survived or were held in detention camps say they were threatened with being sent to these camps if they refused to use birth control. Some women also said they were given injections that stopped their periods. BBC
Emotional Suppression:
- A practice called “crying time” forces detainees to control their emotions under strict supervision, denying them the freedom to express feelings naturally. Reddit

Surveillance and Restrictions on Faith

Xinjiang is one of the world’s most surveilled regions:
- Facial recognition cameras, police checkpoints, and the collection of personal data like fingerprints and eye scans are everywhere. HRF
- Mobile apps are used to watch people and can alert the police if someone does things like own a Quran or pray, calling it “suspicious” behavior.
Oppression of Faith:
- Since 2016, more than 80% of mosques have been destroyed or turned into something else. ASPI
- Muslim leaders have been arrested, and basic Islamic practices like fasting, praying, or wearing hijab are treated as crimes.

Forced Labor and Economic Exploitation

Many Uyghurs are forced to work in factories that make things like clothes, electronics, and solar panels for companies around the world. The Borgen Project
Big brands such as Nike, Apple, Adidas, and Volkswagen have been connected to Uyghur forced labor through independent investigations.
Programs called “poverty alleviation” are sometimes used as a cover to move Uyghurs far from their homes to work in these factories, often against their will.

International Response and Human Rights Concerns

Condemnation:
- The United Nations, European Union, and Canada have condemned China’s actions as crimes against humanity and potential genocide. HRW
Sanctions:
- Sanctions have been imposed on Chinese officials and companies involved, but enforcement is limited by economic interests.
Human Rights Advocacy:
- Groups like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the World Uyghur Congress continue to document abuses and advocate for Uyghur rights.

Conclusion

Over 12 million Uyghurs in Xinjiang have a rich and ancient culture, but today they are facing severe oppression by the Chinese government. This includes mass detentions, forced labor, the destruction of masjids, restrictions on their faith, separation from their families, and brainwashing of their children.

China shows clear double standards. On one side, it claims to support religious freedom and care about Muslims, but on the other side, it forces Uyghur Muslims to abandon their faith and follow communist beliefs. It seems like China just wants to win the trust of the Muslim world while doing the opposite at home. Maybe it fears that a growing Muslim population could threaten its control, just a thought, but what’s happening is serious and undeniable.

Many international organizations, news reports, and survivors have called these actions crimes against humanity. The world must act, through sanctions, raising awareness, and avoiding companies linked to forced labor, to protect Uyghur culture, faith, and basic human rights.

We must speak out for the Uyghur people suffering under the Chinese Communist Party, we must stand for truth and justice, and we must boycott brands that benefit from their pain.

We also stand with the Palestinian people who continue to face occupation and injustice. We stand with justice, we stand with the oppressed, and we will never accept any form of oppression, anywhere in the world.