Analysis of the Uyghur Cultural Genocide

Despite the news coverage about the Uyghurs, there is limited information about historical events that shaped the Uyghur cultural genocide and how the crisis fits into the broader scope of ethnic minorities in China. This paper examines the role of Han Chinese ethnocentrism in the Chinese government's treatment of the Uyghurs. The Uyghurs have experienced an eradication of their way of life and evaluation of evidence from personal correspondence, diaries, speeches, and other primary and secondary sources, assists in deepening understanding of the genocide. Although the oppression is rooted in key events in the twentieth century, it was challenging to find primary sources due to CCP censorship and many documents written in Mandarin. Nevertheless, extensive research led to useful sources for analysis. The Uyghur cultural genocide is an important topic to study as it is a human rights crisis that continues to unfold today.