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.
Starting Points:
Interview: Uyghurs have always valued freedom, academia and democracy
Japanese lawmaker Arfiya Eri discusses political success, ethnic identity and Japan’s response to the genocide of the Uyghurs.
One year later, Uyghurs demand accountability for deadly Urumqi fire
Uyghurs marked the one-year anniversary of a deadly fire in Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi with vigils, demanding accountability for the tragedy that they say killed four times higher than the official death toll of 10.
Uyghur educator, poet confirmed to have died in prison in Xinjiang
The body of a Uyghur educator, researcher and poet who died in prison in Xinjiang in late August was taken by authorities directly to a cemetery for burial instead of first being returned to his family.
Uyghur filmmaker tells court he was tortured into confession
The trial comes amid the ongoing arrest and jailing by Chinese authorities of Uyghurs who have studied or traveled abroad, and who have been accused of engaging in terrorist or separatist activities.
German company’s Xinjiang partner linked to Chinese forced labor
A German newspaper report into ties between China’s state-sponsored Uyghur labor transfer program and a regional partner of chemical giant BASF prompted criticism that the company is ignoring the possibility of forced labor.
Pakistan extends deadline for Uyghurs refugees facing deportation
Pakistani authorities have temporarily extended the period of stay for Uyghurs at risk for deportation under a government order to expel all illegal migrants by the start of November.
Matchmaking App Raises Concerns of Han-Uyghur Assimilation
Experts say the government-backed project is part of Beijing’s assimilation strategy.
China bans book about the early history of the Mongolian people
The move comes after President Xi Jinping called for renewed efforts to boost a sense of Chinese national identity in a visit to the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
Rights groups blast UN for inaction on China’s repression in Xinjiang
Human rights groups say the international body has done little since releasing a damning report a year ago, stating that China may have committed crimes against humanity against the mostly Muslim group.
Remembering enforced disappearance victims in Asia
What do a prize-winning rural development expert from Laos, two Tibetan sisters, a Uyghur anthropologist and a Burmese monk have in common? They are all victims of enforced disappearance, with their whereabouts unknown.
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.