ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the systematic human rights violations of the Uyghur people by the Chinese government after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on 1 October 1949. Since the Chinese communists took power, the Uyghur people have been subjected to massive, systematic and egregious human rights violations, in spite of the guarantees of both domestic and international laws. The Chinese human rights violations have been multi-faceted targeting the Uyghur people’s political demands, religious beliefs, language, culture, traditions and identity. Since 9/11, the Chinese authorities have framed human rights violations of the Uyghur people as ‘China’s war on terror’ since Uyghurs believe in Islam and have repackaged its heavy-handed repression as a fight against the ‘three evil forces of separatism, extremism and terrorism’. Since the unrest of 5 July 2009 in Urumchi, the regional capital, Chinese repression of the Uyghur people’s legitimate demands has increased and the human rights violations of the Uyghur people have become even more severe, prompting international concern. While China’s human rights violations of the Uyghur people have intensified over the decades, the authorities have failed to achieve its objective of pacifying the Uyghur people. Indeed, the Uyghur population has become more resistant to China’s repressive policies.
