Uyghurs forced to greet Chinese holidays before Eid al-Adha

As Eid al-Adha, the largest Muslim holiday (June 6-9, 2025), approaches, Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples in East Turkistan are forced to celebrate the traditional Chinese festival of Duanwu (Dragon Boat Festival).

The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar (May 31, 2025). While China aggressively pursues its policy of ethnic genocide in East Turkistan, it continues to forcibly impose Chinese culture on the Uyghurs. Various holidays previously asserted as Chinese traditions are now promoted as a "common holiday for all ethnic groups."

According to related news in the Xinjiang Daily, various activities and competitions for the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival have been held throughout East Turkistan. The report cited examples from places such as Hotan, Korla, Aksu, and Kashgar. It noted that a "Dragon Boat Team" from Hotan travelled more than 4,000 kilometres to participate in a boating competition on the Miluo River in Hunan for the festival, reflecting a "heartfelt embrace of Chinese culture." The report also stated that various ethnic groups celebrated the festival through activities such as boat rides, making and eating zongzi (traditional Chinese rice), and reciting poetry. Photos published on the subject show Uyghur youth wearing traditional Chinese costumes, participating in activities such as making zongzi, paper cutting, and performing various stage performances.

In recent years, China has been implementing a policy of forced assimilation in East Turkistan, linked to ethnic genocidal policies such as "Embracing the Five from the Heart" (embracing China, Chinese culture, the Chinese Communist Party, and Chinese socialism from the heart) and "Nourishing Xinjiang with Culture." In this process, traditional and religious holidays, Uyghur customs, and traditions are being marginalized and restricted.