Member-only story

Worse Than Death: Reflections On The Uyghur Genocide

Kenzaburō Ōe

·6.2k Followers· Follow

Published in Booklet Boutique

5 min read

1.7k View Claps

99 Respond

Save

Listen

The Uyghur genocide is one of the most pressing human rights issues of our time. The Chinese government has systematically targeted the Uyghur people, a Muslim minority group living in the Xinjiang region of China, with atrocities that include mass detention, forced labor, cultural genocide, and religious persecution.

Worse than Death: Reflections on the Uyghur Genocide

by Booklet Boutique

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1785 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	143 pages

The situation in Xinjiang is dire. The Chinese government has detained an estimated one million Uyghurs in concentration camps, where they are subjected to torture, abuse, and indoctrination. Uyghurs are also forced to work in factories and farms, often under conditions that amount to slavery.

The Concentration Camps

The Chinese government has built a vast network of concentration camps in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs are held indefinitely without trial. The camps are often overcrowded and unsanitary, and detainees are subjected to harsh conditions and mistreatment.

Detainees in the camps are forced to renounce their religion and culture. They are also subjected to political indoctrination and forced to learn Mandarin Chinese. Many detainees have reported being tortured, beaten, and sexually abused.

The conditions in the camps are so severe that many detainees have died. In 2018, a former detainee reported that at least 15 people died in his camp in a single month. The Chinese government has denied these reports, but there is ample evidence to suggest that they are true.

Forced Labor

Uyghurs are also forced to work in factories and farms in Xinjiang and other parts of China. These workers are often paid below-minimum wages and forced to work long hours in dangerous conditions. They are also often subjected to physical and verbal abuse.

The Chinese government has used forced labor to build infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, and to produce goods for export. Forced labor is a serious human rights violation and it is a crime against humanity.

Cultural Genocide

The Chinese government is also engaged in a campaign of cultural genocide against the Uyghur people. The government has banned the use of the Uyghur language in schools and public places. It has also destroyed Uyghur cultural and religious sites.

The Chinese government's goal is to assimilate the Uyghur people into the Han Chinese majority. This is a form of cultural genocide and it is a violation of the Uyghur people's right to self-determination.

Religious Persecution

The Chinese government is also persecuting Uyghurs for their religious beliefs. The government has banned the practice of Islam in Xinjiang and has destroyed mosques and other religious sites. Uyghurs are also forced to attend political indoctrination sessions, where they are taught to renounce their religion.

The Chinese government's persecution of the Uyghur people is a clear violation of their religious freedom. It is also a crime against humanity.

The International Response

The international community has condemned the Chinese government's actions in Xinjiang. The United States, the European Union, and other countries have imposed sanctions on Chinese officials involved in the crackdown on the Uyghurs. However, the Chinese government has refused to change its policies.

In 2021, the United States government declared the Chinese government's actions in Xinjiang to be genocide. This is a significant step, but it is not enough. The international community must do more to pressure the Chinese government to end its atrocities against the Uyghur people.