According to PBS News Hour, the Chinese government has been expanding detention camps to put an end to the Uighur Muslim Minority. More than one million Uighurs were added to these camps since 2017 in more than 85 recognized camps all over Xinjiang. The government of China denied these camps existed for a long amount of time until pictures of the camp construction with wired fences and watchtowers were spread. Once these pictures were spread the government told us that they were “re-education centers” for Uighurs. Many of the Uighurs in the camps said that they were interrogated and beaten for their religion. The Uighurs were not “re-educated”. They were interned.
Who Are The Uighurs?
There are about eleven million Uighurs in Xinjiang and they speak several dialects of two different languages which are divided by territory. They speak Standard Xinjiang and Standard Soviet. Xinjiang has been under the control of China ever since it was added in 1949, however, most Uighurs still identify their homeland by the land’s previous name East Turkestan. Xinjiang is its own designated “special economic zone” because of its rich oil and mineral supplies, Xinjiang is also China’s largest natural gas producer.
Why Are Uighurs Being Targeted?
The Uighurs are being targeted since China claimed that the Uighurs hold fanatic views which are a threat to security. The Uighurs attacked in 2013 and 2014 which the militants of Uighur took responsibility for. In the year 2017, the Xinjiang government passed a law saying that it is now illegal for the male gender to grow beards and for females to wear veils. During the passing of this law, many Mosques which are places that Muslims go to worship have been destroyed and burnt down.
Although we Nepali are not a part of the Muslim and Uighurs society it is still very sad that these societies are getting beaten for their religion and culture. The Nepali culture and religion are one of a kind and I would be very sad if we were getting hurt because of our religion and culture. The Uighurs are not feeling safe in their own land and we can help by having as many people learn about this and spread awareness. The Chinese government is hurting these people and lying that these are just “re-education centers”, only 85 of these detention camps have been found. Who knows how many more there are? I would be really sad if the Nepali community have to go through this, and the Uighurs deserve better. The Chinese Government is cruel.