Changes

==2009==

==2009==

In July 2009 large scale rioting erupted as Uighurs fought Chinese riot police in major cities in China's western Xinjiang province. Over 150 people are dead.  Chinese officials blamed Rebiya Kadeer, a Uighur businesswoman who was jailed for years in China before being released into exile in the US where she now heads the World Uighur Congress, for "masterminding" the unrest.<ref> See [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/world/asia/07kadeer.html?ref=world Wrik Eckholm, "China Points to Another Leader in Exile," ''New York Times'' July 6, 2009]</ref>  Exiled Uighurs blame Chinese repression.  Uighurs are angry at political, cultural and religious persecution as well as the growing presence in the region of Han Chinese - China's main ethnic group. Han now predominate in the cities, and Uighurs in the countryside. This is the first major violent unrest in China in two decades.

In July 2009 large scale rioting erupted as Uighurs fought Chinese riot police in major cities in China's western Xinjiang province. Over 150 people are dead.  Chinese officials blamed Rebiya Kadeer, a Uighur businesswoman who was jailed for years in China before being released into exile in the US where she now heads the World Uighur Congress, for "masterminding" the unrest.<ref>See [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/world/asia/07kadeer.html?ref=world Wrik Eckholm, "China Points to Another Leader in Exile," ''New York Times'' July 6, 2009]</ref>  Exiled Uighurs blame Chinese repression.  Uighurs are angry at political, cultural and religious persecution as well as the growing presence in the region of Han Chinese - China's main ethnic group. Han now predominate in the cities, and Uighurs in the countryside. This is the first major violent unrest in China in two decades.

Unrest in Ürümqi, Xinjiang has led to the disappearance of 10,000 Uighurs in one night by Chinese authorities. Exiled dissident Rebiya Kadeer and the World Uighur Congress urge the international community to provide support for those missing. "Where have they gone? If they are dead, where are they now?" Also, they are blaming the [[United States]] government for keeping silent on the issue. <ref>[http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=19981 10,000 Uighur disappear in China, U.S. silent Spero News, July 29, 2009]</ref>

Unrest in Ürümqi, Xinjiang has led to the disappearance of 10,000 Uighurs in one night by Chinese authorities. Exiled dissident Rebiya Kadeer and the World Uighur Congress urge the international community to provide support for those missing. "Where have they gone? If they are dead, where are they now?" Also, they are blaming the [[United States]] government for keeping silent on the issue.<ref>[http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=19981 10,000 Uighur disappear in China, U.S. silent Spero News, July 29, 2009]</ref>

==History==

==History==

The self-identity of these communities was in direct opposition to an Islamic character, and after the conversion of Turpan to Islam, in the fifteenth century, the name "Uighur" was abandoned in general use.   

The self-identity of these communities was in direct opposition to an Islamic character, and after the conversion of Turpan to Islam, in the fifteenth century, the name "Uighur" was abandoned in general use.   

The Turkic-speaking Uighurs of Turkestan have created a rich culture and literature. The modernizing cultural reform movements of jadidism found ardent supporters in Turkestan, and the move toward national independence was reflected in new literature. Some of the Uighur writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were educated in Turkey and Egypt, and between 1899 and 1920 new printing houses opened and many books on a variety of subjects were produced. After 1980, historical themes became popular for their capability of strengthening national pride and consciousness. In spite of political oppression and assimilation policies, the Uighur Turks have kept and developed their culture, traditions, and existence.<ref> Kasgarli (1993)</ref>

The Turkic-speaking Uighurs of Turkestan have created a rich culture and literature. The modernizing cultural reform movements of jadidism found ardent supporters in Turkestan, and the move toward national independence was reflected in new literature. Some of the Uighur writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were educated in Turkey and Egypt, and between 1899 and 1920 new printing houses opened and many books on a variety of subjects were produced. After 1980, historical themes became popular for their capability of strengthening national pride and consciousness. In spite of political oppression and assimilation policies, the Uighur Turks have kept and developed their culture, traditions, and existence.<ref>Kasgarli (1993)</ref>

The elderly generation of Uighurs grew up during the chaotic, unstable years of the warlord period. Most are grateful for recent improvements in standards of living and do not want to "rock the boat." Middle-aged Uighurs suffered persecution during the Cultural Revolution and fear a return of Maoist ideology. Furthermore, they have homes and families to protect. The younger generation, however, has grown up amid the relative freedom of post-1980 conciliatory minority policy. They have witnessed the 1989 prodemocracy movement in China, the collapse of Eastern Europe and the USSR, and the burgeoning of Islamic fundamentalist movements worldwide. These events have provided inspiration for Uighur youth who are ever more militant in their aspirations to independence. Unlike their elders, they have both less to fear and less to lose.<ref>Based on fieldwork in 1995-96. See Joanne Smith, "Four Generations of Uyghurs: the Shift Towards Ethno-political Ideologies among Xinjiang's Youth." ''Inner Asia'' (2000) 2(2): 195-224. Issn: 1464-8172 .  

The elderly generation of Uighurs grew up during the chaotic, unstable years of the warlord period. Most are grateful for recent improvements in standards of living and do not want to "rock the boat." Middle-aged Uighurs suffered persecution during the Cultural Revolution and fear a return of Maoist ideology. Furthermore, they have homes and families to protect. The younger generation, however, has grown up amid the relative freedom of post-1980 conciliatory minority policy. They have witnessed the 1989 prodemocracy movement in China, the collapse of Eastern Europe and the USSR, and the burgeoning of Islamic fundamentalist movements worldwide. These events have provided inspiration for Uighur youth who are ever more militant in their aspirations to independence. Unlike their elders, they have both less to fear and less to lose.<ref>Based on fieldwork in 1995-96. See Joanne Smith, "Four Generations of Uyghurs: the Shift Towards Ethno-political Ideologies among Xinjiang's Youth." ''Inner Asia'' (2000) 2(2): 195-224. Issn: 1464-8172 .  

</ref>  

</ref>  

==Emigres==

==Emigres==

After several stages of migration, about 500,000 Uighurs have moved throughout Asia, Western Europe, North America, Australia, and Turkey. Their numbers of expatriates correspond to about 7% of the Uighur population of Xinjiang. They use the internet extensively (using western languages) to form a sort of worldide cyber-community.  They present their own view of history to demonstrate that the Uighurs have been a unified people with a sense of community and allegiance to a native land for countless generations.<ref> See Petersen (2006)</ref>

After several stages of migration, about 500,000 Uighurs have moved throughout Asia, Western Europe, North America, Australia, and Turkey. Their numbers of expatriates correspond to about 7% of the Uighur population of Xinjiang. They use the internet extensively (using western languages) to form a sort of worldide cyber-community.  They present their own view of history to demonstrate that the Uighurs have been a unified people with a sense of community and allegiance to a native land for countless generations.<ref>See Petersen (2006)</ref>

Nationalists refer to their homeland as [[East Turkestan]].

Nationalists refer to their homeland as [[East Turkestan]].

==Guantanamo Bay Dentention Center==

==Guantanamo Bay Dentention Center==

Thirteen Uighurs were captured by U.S. forces in [[Afghanistan]] and imprisoned in the U.S. military installation of [[Cuba]], referred to as Gitmo. After the Bush administration had conceded on September 30th that the Uighurs could not be considered enemy combatants,<ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/urbina-transcript-10-7-08.pdf p. 10</ref> a federal judge ordered the release of these prisoners in October 7, 2008.<ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/federal-judge-orders-uighurs-in-us-by-friday/</ref> In his oral ruling, the judge noted the government's admission that the Uighurs "were not waging war on the United States, have never waged war on the United States, were not training to wage war on the United States, and to date, I believe the Government has conceded that these people are not a security risk or a danger to the United States." <ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/urbina-transcript-10-7-08.pdf p. 14</ref>  

Thirteen Uighurs were captured by U.S. forces in [[Afghanistan]] and imprisoned in the U.S. military installation of [[Cuba]], referred to as Gitmo. After the Bush administration had conceded on September 30 that the Uighurs could not be considered enemy combatants,<ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/urbina-transcript-10-7-08.pdf p. 10</ref> a federal judge ordered the release of these prisoners in October 7, 2008.<ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/federal-judge-orders-uighurs-in-us-by-friday/</ref> In his oral ruling, the judge noted the government's admission that the Uighurs "were not waging war on the United States, have never waged war on the United States, were not training to wage war on the United States, and to date, I believe the Government has conceded that these people are not a security risk or a danger to the United States." <ref>http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/urbina-transcript-10-7-08.pdf p. 14</ref>  

*“The Obama administration is preparing to free into the United States Chinese Muslims being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the first release of any of the detainees into this country, according to current and former U.S. officials.” – Chicago Tribune

*“The Obama administration is preparing to free into the United States Chinese Muslims being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the first release of any of the detainees into this country, according to current and former U.S. officials.” – Chicago Tribune

* Becquelin, Nicolas. "Staged Development in Xinjiang." ''China Quarterly'' (2004) (178): 358-378. Issn: 0305-7410  

* Becquelin, Nicolas. "Staged Development in Xinjiang." ''China Quarterly'' (2004) (178): 358-378. Issn: 0305-7410  

* Forbes, Andrew D.W. ''Warlords and Muslims in Chinese Central Asia: A Political History of Republican Sinkiang, 1911-1949'' Cambridge University Press: 1986

* Forbes, Andrew D.W. ''Warlords and Muslims in Chinese Central Asia: A Political History of Republican Sinkiang, 1911-1949'' Cambridge University Press: 1986

* Gladney, Dru C. "The Chinese program of development and control, 1978-2001", in ''Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland,'' ed. S. Frederick Starr, M.E. Sharpe, 2004, pp. 101-119.

* Gladney, Dru C. "The Chinese program of development and control, 1978-2001", in ''Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland,'' ed. S. Frederick Starr, M.E. Sharpe, 2004, pp.&nbsp;101–119.

* Gladney, Dru C. "The Ethnogenesis of the Uighur." ''Central Asian Survey'' 1990 9(1): 1-28. ISSN: 0263-4937   

* Gladney, Dru C. "The Ethnogenesis of the Uighur." ''Central Asian Survey'' 1990 9(1): 1-28. ISSN: 0263-4937   

* Gladney, Dru C. ''Muslim Chinese: Ethnic Nationalism in the People's Republic,'' (Harvard University Press, 1991)

* Gladney, Dru C. ''Muslim Chinese: Ethnic Nationalism in the People's Republic,'' (Harvard University Press, 1991)

* Hierman, Brent. "The Pacification of Xinjiang: Uighur Protest and the Chinese State, 1988-2002." ''Problems of Post-Communism,'' May/Jun2007, Vol. 54 Issue 3, pp 48-62, in [[EBSCO]]

* Hierman, Brent. "The Pacification of Xinjiang: Uighur Protest and the Chinese State, 1988-2002." ''Problems of Post-Communism,'' May/Jun2007, Vol. 54 Issue 3, pp 48–62, in [[EBSCO]]

* Hyer, Eric. "China's Policy Towards Uighur Nationalism." ''Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs'' (2006) 26(1): 75-86. Issn: 1360-2004 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]

* Hyer, Eric. "China's Policy Towards Uighur Nationalism." ''Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs'' (2006) 26(1): 75-86. Issn: 1360-2004 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]

* Kasgarli, Sultan Mahmut. "The Formation of Modern Uighur Literature and Current Developments." ''Central Asian Survey'' 1993 12(4): 577-583. Issn: 0263-4937  

* Kasgarli, Sultan Mahmut. "The Formation of Modern Uighur Literature and Current Developments." ''Central Asian Survey'' 1993 12(4): 577-583. Issn: 0263-4937  

*  Kung, Lap-Yan. "National identity and ethno-religious identity: A critical inquiry into Chinese religious policy, with reference to the Uighurs in Xinjiang."  ''Religion, State & Society,' Dec 2006, Vol. 34 Issue 4, pp 375-391, in [[EBSCO]]

*  Kung, Lap-Yan. "National identity and ethno-religious identity: A critical inquiry into Chinese religious policy, with reference to the Uighurs in Xinjiang."  ''Religion, State & Society,' Dec 2006, Vol. 34 Issue 4, pp 375–391, in [[EBSCO]]

* Mackerras, Coli. ''The Uighur Empire According to the T'ang dynastic Histories: A Study in Sino-Uighur Relations, 744—840,'' Australian National University Press, 1972

* Mackerras, Coli. ''The Uighur Empire According to the T'ang dynastic Histories: A Study in Sino-Uighur Relations, 744—840,'' Australian National University Press, 1972

* Millward, James A. and Peter Purdue, "Political and cultural history of the Xinjiang region through the late nineteenth century", in ''Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland,'' ed. S. Frederick Starr, M.E. Sharpe, (2004), pp. 27-62

* Millward, James A. and Peter Purdue, "Political and cultural history of the Xinjiang region through the late nineteenth century", in ''Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland,'' ed. S. Frederick Starr, M.E. Sharpe, (2004), pp.&nbsp;27–62

* Petersen, Kristian. "Usurping the Nation: Cyber-leadership in the Uighur Nationalist Movement."  ''Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs'' (2006) 26(1): 63-73. Issn: 1360-2004 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]

* Petersen, Kristian. "Usurping the Nation: Cyber-leadership in the Uighur Nationalist Movement."  ''Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs'' (2006) 26(1): 63-73. Issn: 1360-2004 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]

* Rudelson, Justin J. "Uighur historiography and Uighur ethnic nationalism", in ''Ethnicity, Minorities, and Cultural Encounters,'' ed. Ingvar Svanberg, Uppsala, MN: Centre for Multiethnic Research, Uppsala University, 1991, pp. 63-82

* Rudelson, Justin J. "Uighur historiography and Uighur ethnic nationalism", in ''Ethnicity, Minorities, and Cultural Encounters,'' ed. Ingvar Svanberg, Uppsala, MN: Centre for Multiethnic Research, Uppsala University, 1991, pp.&nbsp;63–82

* Sinor, Denis. "The Uighurs", in ''The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia,'' ed. Denis Sinor, Cambridge University Press, 1990, pp. 335-342

* Sinor, Denis. "The Uighurs", in ''The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia,'' ed. Denis Sinor, Cambridge University Press, 1990, pp.&nbsp;335–342

==References==

==References==

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.uyghuramerican.org/ Uyghur American Association] (UAA).

* [http://www.uyghuramerican.org/ Uyghur American Association] (UAA).

[[category:Muslims]]

[[Category:Muslims]]

[[category:Middle East]]

[[Category:Middle East]]

[[category:Chinese History]]

[[Category:Chinese History]]

[[Category: Chinese Ethnicities]]

[[Category:Chinese Ethnicities]]