China’s Oppression of Uighur Minority Continues with Village Name Changes
The Chinese government has once again faced criticism for its treatment of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang, with reports surfacing about the erasure and replacement of traditional Uighur names on village signs. This action is viewed as part of a larger strategy to suppress Uighur culture and eliminate their religious and ethnic identity. The recent developments have sparked renewed concerns about the Chinese government’s activities in the region and their impact on the faith and traditions of the Uighur people.
Systematic Changes in Village Names
According to a recent report from Human Rights Watch, China has systematically altered the names of hundreds of villages in Xinjiang to align with the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party. Rights groups, in collaboration with Norwegian advocacy organization Uyghur Hjelp, identified 630 villages in Xinjiang where names were modified between 2009 and 2023. Some of the most common replacements included names like Happiness, Unity, and Solidarity.
The Changing Landscape in Xinjiang
The Chinese authorities have been replacing village names rich in Uighur cultural significance with names that reflect government propaganda. This move is perceived as a deliberate effort to erase the cultural and religious heritage of the Uighur people. The alterations, which peaked between 2017 and 2019, involved removing references to Uighur history, including names of past kingdoms, republics, and local leaders. Additionally, names containing words associated with Uighur cultural practices, such as shrines and musical instruments, were also changed.
Impact on Uighur Communities
Interviews conducted by Uyghur Hjelp with 11 Uighurs residing in villages affected by these name changes revealed the profound impact on individuals. One villager shared difficulties returning home after being released from a re-education camp due to the absence of their familiar village name in the ticketing system. Another villager expressed sentiments through poetry and music to preserve memories of the now-renamed locations where they once lived.
International Concern and Calls for Action
The United Nations, under former human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, raised concerns about human rights violations in Xinjiang and sought access to the region. After visiting Xinjiang in 2022, Bachelet highlighted the severe violations, including arbitrary detentions and discrimination against Uighurs and other Muslim groups, suggesting that these actions could constitute crimes against humanity. Abduweli Ayup, founder of Uyghur Hjelp, urged global governments and the UN to hold the Chinese government accountable for the abuses in Xinjiang, emphasizing the continued wrongful imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of Uighur individuals.
the ongoing name changes in Xinjiang villages serve as a stark reminder of the systematic efforts to eradicate Uighur cultural heritage and suppress their identity. The international community must intensify efforts to address these human rights abuses and advocate for the rights and freedoms of the Uighur people.
