All Reading
This section contains a curated list of useful articles, investigations, books and other reading materials. The list is updated on a weekly basis and suggestions for additions are welcome.
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Stop tourism of Xinjiang, Uyghur advocacy group says
Western travel agencies must stop offering tours of Xinjiang because they are implicitly supporting Beijing’s repression of the mostly Muslim Uyghurs who live there, a new report by a Uyghur advocacy group says.
Uyghur design director from Turkey confirmed detained in Xinjiang
Despite having worked for a Chinese locomotive manufacturer in Turkey for more than a decade, Qahar Eli was arrested by Chinese authorities in March when he returned to Xinjiang for a family visit.
Visiting Xinjiang, Xi Jinping doubles down on hard-line policies against Uyghurs
Visiting Xinjiang for the second time in just over a year, President Xi Jinping vowed to double down on China’s hardline policies toward the 11 million mostly Muslim Uyghurs who live in the region.
Xinjiang police detain ethnic Kazakh who sang Quranic recitations at Muslim wedding
Recitations of the Quran have been banned since 2017, when China began the mass incarceration of Uyghurs and other ethnic groups in "re-education" camps across Xinjiang.
Major Muslim group buys into China’s narrative of happy Uyghurs in a stable Xinjiang
Seeking to promote its narrative about the peace and prosperity enjoyed by majority-Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China invited delegates from the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to observe.
Prominent Uyghur activist learns about father’s death in Xinjiang months after demise
Hearing about a relative’s death months or years later is not unusual for Uyghurs living abroad. In many cases, the circumstances of the death remain unclear.
China pumps up narrative of happy Uyghurs in Xinjiang among Pakistanis
The sudden rise in popularity of a media star with ties to the Chinese Embassy has raised questions among Uyghurs living in Pakistan about Beijing’s efforts to use local Uyghurs as propaganda tools.
Historic Kashgar mosque open for tourists, but not worshipers
Chinese authorities have started selling tickets to tourists to visit the historic Id Kah Mosque in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs have been prohibited from praying for years except for certain occasions.
Two Uyghurs confirmed detained for religious activities in Xinjiang
Chinese authorities in Xinjiang detained two Uyghur men for participating in religious activities, Radio Free Asia has confirmed, shedding light on the reason for their detention for the first time.
Tory MPs voice concerns over tabled ban on public bodies boycotting Israel
A Former Conservative party leader said he was worried the bill could stop government bodies refusing to buy Chinese-made goods.
Arab nations praise China’s Uyghur policies: Society is ‘harmonious,’ religion free
Following a recent visit to Xinjiang, a delegation from the Arab League praised “Xinjiang’s remarkable achievements in respecting and safeguarding human rights.”
VW investors question how Xinjiang plant audit will be run
Many consultancy and due diligence firms in China refuse to audit in Xinjiang because of heightened difficulty of getting reliable reports there, raising questions on how reliable the outcome will be.
Three Uyghur brothers who fled into India a decade ago aim to seek asylum in Canada
Detained in India since escaping China’s Xinjiang province a decade ago, three Uyghur brothers now seek asylum in Canada due to the growing risk of deportation back to China.
US government, activists demand release of jailed 19-year-old Uyghur student
Kamile Wayit is serving jail time in Xinjiang for "advocating extremism", after she was detained for posting a video about protests relating to coronavirus restrictions in China.
US lawmakers introduce bipartisan bill to give priority refugee status to Uyghurs
It designates Uyghurs and other ethnic groups persecuted by the Chinese government as priority 2, and expedites their ability to apply for asylum in the United States.
Uyghur university student serving 13-year sentence for using VPN
Authorities stated he “posed a threat to national security” by using a virtual private network, or VPN, to bypass official internet sensors and view “illegal information”.
Uyghur hatmaker and wife confirmed to have died in prison in Xinjiang
Detained in 2017 for “illegal” religious activities, the couple - who were in their 60s and 70s, died while serving their 10 year sentences.
US House panel urges further action Uyghur forced labor
In a new report, the House Select Committee on China recommended removing a loophole allowing apparel websites to sell clothes in the United States made by Uyghur forced labour.
Uyghur motorcycle repairman’s corpse released by prison in Kashgar prefecture
A Uyghur motorcycle repairman detained in a Xinjiang prison since 2017 for making a religious pilgrimage abroad years ago is reported to have died in jail.
New details about Uyghur law school student’s suicide come to light
Police files reveal the 22-year-old was distraught over the detention of her father, a Chinese Communist party cadre and member of the village’s People’s Congress, for “threatening national security.”