This lecture examines the urgent situation in the Uyghur Region that demands sustained international attention. Multiple governments have now labeled China’s actions toward Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities as genocide, including the U.S. State Department and the parliaments of Canada, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, and Belgium. Reports indicate that many Uyghurs have been detained without charge in so-called “re-education camps” or sentenced to lengthy prison terms on widely criticized charges. Among those detained or imprisoned are prominent scientists, writers, poets, religious leaders, and students who had studied abroad. In response to concerns about forced labor, several governments and corporations have formally restricted the import of products such as cotton and tomatoes from Xinjiang.
These developments represent not only a major human rights crisis but also an existential threat to Uyghur language and culture. Reports indicate that Uyghur-medium schools have been closed, despite constitutional commitments in the People’s Republic of China to allow minority groups to “use and develop” their languages. Uyghurs have faced increasing pressure to adopt Chinese language and cultural practices in educational institutions and detention facilities. Additional restrictions reportedly affect everyday religious and cultural expression, including limits on wearing beards or headscarves and constraints on religious practice.
Indiana University has long been recognized as a leader in the study of Islam, Central Asia, and Uyghur history and culture. This lecture will examine the continuing threats facing Uyghur language, culture, and identity, and discuss the broader implications of the ongoing crisis in Xinjiang. By bringing together scholarship, documentation, and public discussion, the event aims to foster greater understanding of the challenges facing the Uyghur community today.