06.03.2025 13:05
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Uyghur genocide: a human tragedy in the 21st century
Uyghur Muslims in East Turkestan have been subjected to decades of oppression and repression by the Chinese government, a situation that international organizations have described as "cultural genocide" and even "crimes against humanity."
Also on January 19, 2021, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called China's policies towards Uyghurs "genocide." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying responded to this statement, calling it the "lie of the century."
Today, more than 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are reportedly imprisoned in "re-education" camps. Yet, many countries around the world are not paying serious attention to this conflict.
Why are Uyghurs being persecuted?
The Uyghurs are a Turkic-Muslim people who have lived in the region of East Turkestan for centuries. However, in the 20th century, the Chinese communist government took full control of the region. In recent decades, China has increasingly restricted the ethnic and religious freedoms of the Uyghurs:
mosques, Islamic madrasas, and cultural centers were closed;
Education in the Uyghur language was banned;
Prayer, fasting, wearing the hijab, and eating halal food were restricted;
Individuals who expressed their religious and national identity were imprisoned as "radicals."
The Chinese government describes this policy as "fighting Islamic extremism." However, international human rights organizations have described such actions as a policy of mass repression and assimilation.
Re-education camps and the modern control system
In recent years, China has opened a number of so-called "re-education camps." Officially, they provide "vocational training." But in practice, these camps are no different from prisons. According to eyewitness accounts and satellite imagery, more than a million people are being forcibly detained in these camps.
In these institutions, Uyghurs are also forced to abandon their traditional customs. Torture, violence, and forced labor are commonplace.
In addition, China is using modern surveillance systems to monitor the lives of Uyghurs in detail, including facial recognition technology, mobile phone tracking, and DNA data collection.
International Relations: Why is the world silent?
Although this situation has been strongly criticized internationally, no serious measures have been taken. Reasons:
1. Economic interests - China is one of the world's largest economies, and many countries do not want to sever relations with Beijing.
2. Political pressure - China is trying to prevent official genocide accusations through its influence at the UN.
3. Information control - China has been hiding the truth about internal events by restricting access to foreign media in Uyghur areas.
A number of Western countries, notably the US, Canada and the UK, have described China's actions as genocide. However, sanctions and diplomatic pressure have not had enough effect.
There is ample evidence of Uyghurs who managed to escape the camps. For example, Gulbahar Haitvayji, who fled to Kazakhstan in 2021, says:
"I was held in the camp for 14 months. Every day they forced me to praise the Chinese Communist Party. They considered me an enemy because I had an Islamic upbringing. Some were severely tortured, and some were sterilized while pregnant."
Family members of Uyghurs in China have also been denied the opportunity to contact their relatives abroad.
China is a major trading partner for many Muslim countries, especially those in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. China has invested billions of dollars in many Muslim countries under its Belt and Road Initiative. These countries do not want to lose economic ties with China.
Some Muslim countries base their foreign policy on relations with the West or China.
While some citizens and organizations in the Muslim world are taking action on this issue, there has been little public outcry against China at the state level, largely driven by economic dependence, diplomatic pressure, and geopolitical interests.
Also on January 19, 2021, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called China's policies towards Uyghurs "genocide." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying responded to this statement, calling it the "lie of the century."
Today, more than 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are reportedly imprisoned in "re-education" camps. Yet, many countries around the world are not paying serious attention to this conflict.
Why are Uyghurs being persecuted?
The Uyghurs are a Turkic-Muslim people who have lived in the region of East Turkestan for centuries. However, in the 20th century, the Chinese communist government took full control of the region. In recent decades, China has increasingly restricted the ethnic and religious freedoms of the Uyghurs:
mosques, Islamic madrasas, and cultural centers were closed;
Education in the Uyghur language was banned;
Prayer, fasting, wearing the hijab, and eating halal food were restricted;
Individuals who expressed their religious and national identity were imprisoned as "radicals."
The Chinese government describes this policy as "fighting Islamic extremism." However, international human rights organizations have described such actions as a policy of mass repression and assimilation.
Re-education camps and the modern control system
In recent years, China has opened a number of so-called "re-education camps." Officially, they provide "vocational training." But in practice, these camps are no different from prisons. According to eyewitness accounts and satellite imagery, more than a million people are being forcibly detained in these camps.
In these institutions, Uyghurs are also forced to abandon their traditional customs. Torture, violence, and forced labor are commonplace.
In addition, China is using modern surveillance systems to monitor the lives of Uyghurs in detail, including facial recognition technology, mobile phone tracking, and DNA data collection.
International Relations: Why is the world silent?
Although this situation has been strongly criticized internationally, no serious measures have been taken. Reasons:
1. Economic interests - China is one of the world's largest economies, and many countries do not want to sever relations with Beijing.
2. Political pressure - China is trying to prevent official genocide accusations through its influence at the UN.
3. Information control - China has been hiding the truth about internal events by restricting access to foreign media in Uyghur areas.
A number of Western countries, notably the US, Canada and the UK, have described China's actions as genocide. However, sanctions and diplomatic pressure have not had enough effect.
There is ample evidence of Uyghurs who managed to escape the camps. For example, Gulbahar Haitvayji, who fled to Kazakhstan in 2021, says:
"I was held in the camp for 14 months. Every day they forced me to praise the Chinese Communist Party. They considered me an enemy because I had an Islamic upbringing. Some were severely tortured, and some were sterilized while pregnant."
Family members of Uyghurs in China have also been denied the opportunity to contact their relatives abroad.
China is a major trading partner for many Muslim countries, especially those in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. China has invested billions of dollars in many Muslim countries under its Belt and Road Initiative. These countries do not want to lose economic ties with China.
Some Muslim countries base their foreign policy on relations with the West or China.
While some citizens and organizations in the Muslim world are taking action on this issue, there has been little public outcry against China at the state level, largely driven by economic dependence, diplomatic pressure, and geopolitical interests.