China Destroys Uyghur Heritage: Hundreds of Mosques Destroyed in East Turkistan

In a revelation, China has been systematically destroying hundreds of mosques and Islamic shrines in East Turkistan (Xinjiang). This deliberate effort aims to erase the Islamic heritage of the Uyghur population and forcefully assimilate them into Han Chinese culture. The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has strongly condemned this cultural genocide. It is drawing international attention to the severe human rights violations occurring in East Turkistan (Xinjiang). Much like the tragic genocide of Kashmiri Pandits, which saw a community erased while the world largely remained silent, the plight of the Uyghurs demands urgent global attention.
THE SYSTEMATIC ERASURE OF ISLAMIC HERITAGE
For centuries, the Uyghur people have practiced Islam, with their cultural and religious identity deeply intertwined with their way of life. However, recent reports indicate that the Chinese government has no interest in preserving this heritage. Instead, it has embarked on a campaign to eradicate Islamic culture in East Turkistan (Xinjiang). The WUC highlighted these efforts, stating, “Since the 16th century, most Uyghurs have practised Islam. But China has no interest in this later period. Instead, officials are trying to erase it. In recent years, they have destroyed hundreds of mosques and Muslim shrines across East Turkistan.”
ARCHAEOLOGY AS A WEAPON AGAINST UYGHUR
China’s strategy involves more than just physical destruction; it extends to manipulating history and archaeology to justify its oppressive rule over East Turkistan (Xinjiang). A report titled “China is using archaeology as a weapon” details how Chinese authorities are selectively unearthing ancient artifacts to claim that East Turkistan (Xinjiang) has always been an integral part of China. Excavations in Kashgar, for example, have uncovered a Buddhist stupa along with stone tools, copper coins, and fragments of a Buddha statue. Chinese archaeologists assert these findings demonstrate the region’s ancient connection to Han Chinese culture.
HISTORICAL MANIPULATION FOR POLITICAL GAIN
The Chinese government is using these archaeological discoveries to bolster its narrative that East Turkistan (Xinjiang) has been part of China since ancient times. Official statements emphasize that parts of the stupa were constructed in a “Han Buddhist” style and suggest the site was visited by a 7th-century monk from central China, Xuanzang. These claims are intended to legitimize Beijing’s current control over the region.
China’s security campaign, which peaked in 2018-19, saw around a million Uyghurs and other Muslims forcibly assimilated into Han Chinese culture through internment camps. Critics worldwide decry this as “cultural genocide,” while Chinese officials defend their actions as efforts to combat religious extremism.
DISTORTING HISTORY TO JUSTIFY OPPRESSION
In a recent conference held in Kashgar, Pan Yue, head of the state’s Ethnic Affairs Commission, reiterated these controversial claims. He argued that discoveries at Mo’er temple and other sites prove the cultural inseparability of East Turkistan (Xinjiang) and China, dismissing criticisms as ignorance and baseless narratives. However, many experts challenge this distorted historical narrative.
James Millward of Georgetown University notes that China’s ancient dynasties had only sporadic influence in East Turkistan (Xinjiang), with the region enjoying significant autonomy from the 8th to the early 18th century. It wasn’t until the Qing dynasty’s conquest in 1759 that East Turkistan (Xinjiang) became a Chinese colony, a status the Communist Party inherited in 1949.
THE GLOBAIZING INFLUENCE THE SILK ROAD
The findings at Mo’er temple highlight the Silk Road’s globalizing effect, showcasing the rich cultural exchanges along the trade routes linking China with Central Asia and Europe. While many Uyghurs’ ancestors were Buddhist, this does not mean East Turkistan (Xinjiang) was culturally or politically part of China. After all, Buddhism originated from India.
Since the 16th century, most Uyghurs have practiced Islam, a history that Beijing is ruthlessly trying to erase. The ruins in East Turkistan (Xinjiang), surrounded by buildings mimicking Beijing’s Forbidden City, reflect this aggressive cultural rewriting. A Han construction worker’s assertion that Buddhist culture is part of Han culture and that East Turkistan (Xinjiang) has been part of China for thousands of years echoes the official narrative, underscoring the deep-rooted propaganda at play.