Uyghurs are one of the officially recognized native Islamic minorities living in China. They are mostly settled in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), in the northwest part of the Chinese territory, which is particularly rich in natural resources and strategically adjacent to eight countries. While, over time, the Uyghur minority has often suffered various forms of discrimination, in the last years, Uyghurs have had to face a dramatic increase in obstacles and interferences from the Chinese authorities.
Starting from 2016, Uyghurs have been repeatedly accused by the Chinese government to promote religious Islamist extremism by plotting attacks and bombings against the local population. For this reason, at the end of the same year, China promoted a massive political re-education program, forcing about 1 million Uyghurs – out of a total population of 11 million individuals – in detention camps for periods ranging from weeks to years. In particular, according to some reports, only between 2019 and 2020 more than 60 detention camps were built, and other 14 centers are under construction right now.
The Chinese government considers the re-education sites to discipline Uyghur extremists and make them qualified workers or exemplary citizens, but various humanitarian organizations have reported that in such internment sites, human rights abuses, mistreatment, rape, and different forms of torture have been performed. Some detainees have even alleged forced abortions, forced use of contraceptive devices, and compulsory sterilization.
Many human rights activists have already called China to respect religion’s freedom, and various UN officials have repeatedly demanded “meaningful access for independent international observers,” but China has denied all accusations. So far, therefore, Uyghurs remain with no concrete protection. Without any practical step from States and China’s private economic partners, the improvement of Uyghurs’ living conditions remains far from being achieved.
By Simone Maria Russo