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The '''Uighur''' ([[Simplified Chinese|Simplified]]: 伟哥尔; [[Traditional Chinese|Traditional]]: 偉哥爾; [[Hanyu pinyin]]: Wèi gē èr) (pronounced wē-gu̇r) ethnic group is a [[Turkic]] ethnic group originally from [[East Turkestan]], currently under Chinese occupation. They number around 8.4 million people in addition to expatriates. The Uighurs practice [[Islam]].  

The '''Uighur''' ([[Simplified Chinese|Simplified]]: 伟哥尔; [[Traditional Chinese|Traditional]]: 偉哥爾; [[Hanyu pinyin]]: Wèi gē èr) (pronounced wē-gu̇r) ethnic group is a [[Turkic]] ethnic group originally from [[East Turkestan]], currently under Chinese occupation. They number around 8.4 million people in addition to expatriates. The Uighurs practice [[Islam]].  

==2009==

==2009 massacres==

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 [https://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 [https://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.

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==Guantanamo Bay Dentention Center==

==ETIM==

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>  

Thirteen members of the East Turkistan Independence Movement (ETIM) 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

After the ruling, the question became where they would be released, as they feared retaliation by the Chinese government, and a US Appeals Court ruling determined that the judiciary had no authority to release the prisoners onto American soil.

After the ruling, the question became where they would be released, as they feared retaliation by the Chinese government, and a US Appeals Court ruling determined that the judiciary had no authority to release the prisoners onto American soil.

Four inmates have been transferred to [[Bermuda]]. The rest will likely be relocated to the island of [[Palau]].<ref>http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1683165</ref>

Four inmates have been transferred to [[Bermuda]]. The rest will likely be relocated to the island of [[Palau]].<ref>http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1683165</ref>