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:
Turkey arrests Chinese nationals suspected of surveilling Uyghurs
Authorities in Turkey have arrested six people believed to be spying on members of the Uyghur community in Istanbul for Chinese intelligence, according to media reports.
Uyghur Policy Act passes US House
The legislation would require the State Department to offer Uyghur language classes to diplomats, and place Uyghur speakers in all consulates in China.
China silencing critics in US, Congress told
Chinese critics of Beijing living in America are surveilled, intimidated and harassed by U.S.-based agents of the Chinese Communist Party if they speak out, activists told Congress.
Xinjiang is ‘one of the most heavily policed regions in the world’: study
A new report from the Uyghur Human Rights Project points out that there are twice as many Armed Police mobile attachments in Xinjiang than in Beijing, despite having only a fraction of the capital’s population.
Uyghurs mark two years since ‘genocide’ finding
Uyghur activists and U.S. lawmakers on Monday marked two years since an independent tribunal in London handed down a decision that China’s government was committing genocide against Uyghurs.
Jailed Uyghur academic Ilham Tohti nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Citing his role as “the true symbol of the Uyghur people's fight for freedom” under Chinese rule in Xinjiang, more than 180 high-level officials and experts have nominated Ilham Tohti to receive the prize.
US sanctions Chinese officials over Uyghur abuse
Three additional companies are also blocked from exporting goods to the US due to the possible use of forced labor.
Volkswagen under fire after audit finds no evidence of Uyghur forced labor
Experts on the region cast doubt on the results, saying official documents show Uyghur detainees from re-education camps were funneled to the factory.
‘Substantial volume’ of clothing tied to Uyghur forced labour entering EU, says study
The report identifies dozens of well-known brands as having “significant ties” to Xinjiang, via Chinese companies involved in forced labour transfer programmes.
Answers for imprisoned Uyghur case revealed after three months
After his niece Nefise Oghuz posted videos calling on China to release him, she eventually received several different answers for why he was in prison and the duration of his sentence.
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.