China and the Uyghurs.

The People’s Republic of China, the world’s most populous country and one of the cradles of civilisation itself. With its abundance of natural resources, and both the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, humanity grew here to establish one of the first empires of the modern world. Throughout its history, China has undergone many wars and conquests within its land, from inner conflict between rival dynasties, to invasions from the Japanese and Mongols, China has had a turbulent past. Today, China is the second largest economy in the world and ever-growing, ruled under the Communist Party of China. The political transformation over the last century has created ripples through all of mainland China, in particular to the West, where the marginalised Uyghur reside.

To the West of China, lies the province of Xinjiang, largely autonomous and rich in natural resources, and the home of the Uyghur people. The Uyghur’s were ethnically Turkic who migrated into the region from Central Asia and Russia, establishing communities due to the fertile land eons ago. It remained largely separated from the troubles ongoing in Eastern China until it was assimilated within the Qing Dynasty of 1892.

During this time Islam was introduced to China through the Silk Road Trade which ran through the Province. Many Muslims emerged including the original companions (Sahaba) of the Prophet Muhammad to bring Islam into the Eastern World. This also introduced the Hui people, the current largest Muslim minority in China who mainly derive from Arab, Persian and Anatolian ancestry. They integrated quickly, marrying the local Han people and receiving similar benefits as their Uyghur brothers. However, this all changed under the emergence of the Communist Party.

A principle of Communism that China adheres to is the unification of the people, under one leader and to limit individualism where they deem it dangerous to the nation: whether it be in culture, language or custom. The Uyghur’s are ethnically and culturally far different to their Eastern counterparts, they follow a different religion, language, identity, custom and culture. It is why there has been a recent push for independence away from a more centralised China. As the Xinjiang Province is abundant with oil reserves, it remains a pivotal domain for the future of China.

So, what have China done to curb the notion of an independent nation… indoctrination camps of course. While the assimilated Hui Muslims enjoy religious freedoms such as to practise their religion, build places of worship and to travel, the Uyghur’s do not receive such luxuries. Uyghur State Officials are not allowed to fast during Ramadan or attend pilgrimage, and the women are not allowed to wear veils.

The Independent Reports there could be upwards of one million people arrested and held in mass re-education camps in 2017, without trial or access to a lawyer, forced to disavow their religious beliefs and pledge fealty to the Communist Party. The US Commissioner called it “the largest mass incarceration of a minority population in the world today” while a leading historian called it “cultural cleansing,” and Beijing’s “final solution to the Xinjiang problem.” That doesn’t sound nazi-esque at all.

The Xinjiang province has now become a ‘Big Brother’ type scenario. High-Tech surveillance, military patrols and CCTV is prominent, actions such as viewing foreign websites, calling relatives abroad or even praying and growing a beard could land you in an indoctrination camp. Internees described their days in which they would wake and recite the National Anthem while raising the flag. They would have to memorise Communist ‘Red Songs’ and study Mandarin and Chinese History.

They had to revoke their own customs and admit that their ancestry was nothing but “indigenous sheep-herders…yoked by slavery”. A touching history lesson. Failing to do so would lead to longer sentences, beatings and lashes. Failure to denounce your faith would lead to forced consumption of pork and alcohol, one internee described being bathed in pig’s blood for days on end.

More than a million Chinese Communist Officials have been dispatched to live with, yes live with, the Uyghur families to teach them of the glories of Communism and to ensure procedures are being carried out. The Uyghur settlements are now left barren, one women described the scene as a horror show; “there are no men left on the streets, they have all been taken to the camps, stores are vacant, streets empty, the fields untamed.”

This removal of individuality sets a dangerous precedent for the future of China. Removing the freedom of religion and cleansing an ethnic group that has been there since the dawn of civilisation is a harrowing thing to witness in the modern world. While we have seen ongoing ethnic cleansing in all corners of this Earth, it seems China has perfected the system as there has been no scrutiny, no outcry, and no action for the Uyghur people. China has finally settled a millennium old debt, and are about to put an end to the Uyghur people once and for all.