Uighurs are Turkic people who are predominantly Muslim. They are the largest indigenous group in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of the People's Republic of China. A number also live in Central Asia, where many have been established for decades. Some of these people are nationals of the countries in which they live whilst others -- mainly traders from China -- retain their PRC citizenship.
Amnesty International believes that these people are being subjected to human rights violations.

A Uighur boy in the XUAR, (c) Tom Singleton, 2002

For a personal account of Tom's visit to China: click here

Known human rights violations against Uighurs

Context: The Uighurs once made up 93% of the population in Xinjiang region, but now comprises less than half. Chinese authorities have closed off the border with Afghanistan and Uighurs seem increasingly marginalised.

April 1990: 6,000+ people were reportedly detained in XUAR for ‘fomenting rebellion’, following violent clashes between police and civilians in Baren Township. The file singles out 11 men for particular mention.

22nd March 2002: Chinese authorities reported to have executed some of the thousands of Muslims in the Xinjiang region detained for their claimed links to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida. Amnesty says that 8,000 Muslims were given "political education" courses. Some were arrested for reading the Koran.

11th August 2002: Ethnic Uighur businesswoman, Rebiya Kadeer, has been detained for exactly three years simply for sending publicly available newspapers to her husband in the USA. Chinese authorities charged her with 'providing secret information to foreigners' and sentenced her to 8 years imprisonment. There are other cases like Rebiya Kadeer's.

Why should we support the Uighurs?

Uighurs have previously been subjected to human rights violations in the region and have found themselves increasingly accused of sympathizing with and even supporting the banned Islamic opposition movements in Central Asia. Its membershave frequently been arbitrarily arrested, tortured and ill-treated by the authorities in Central Asia, and some forcibly deported to China.

This campaign can only be successful if we make people aware of what is going on.

There are some simple steps that you can take:

• Write a letter - click here
• Co-ordinator's campaign report click here
• Join your local branch of Amnesty International - click here

More information on the Uighurs

• Chinese section on Amnesty International site - click here
• Uighur UK association - click here
• Interview: Uighur presence at UNPO

• Amnesty International information
  
  
• Info on repression in XUAR - click here
• Crackdown on Uighurs to counter "terrorism" must stop - click here
• Specific case: for further information on Rebiya Kadeer - click here
• Specific case: for further information on Tohti Tunyaz - click here

• Other sources
  
• Guardian - 23/03/02: "Beijing rounds up Muslims" - click here
• Prospect (USA) - 19/10/01: "China's Designated Terrorists" - click here
• Guardian - 09/08/01: "Legacy of hatred passed down..." - click here
• UNPO - 04/01: Article by Erkin Alptekin, UNPO Gen Secretary -original link broken but click here
• Guardian - 15/03/00: "A remarkable woman is suppressed" - click here