The “Lonely Uyghur” protester, well-known to “Bitter Winter” readers, celebrates in his own way the day established to protect endangered languages.

by Abdurehim Gheni Uyghur

Bitter Winter, 02/21/2025

On November 17, 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day.

The original name of this day was Mother Language Movement Day, established to commemorate university students who were martyred while defending the Bengali language. In 1952, when present-day Bangladesh was still part of Pakistan, the people demanded that Bengali be recognized as an official language of the country. On February 21 of that year, police opened fire on a group of demonstrators, killing five individuals on the spot. After Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan on March 26, 1971, a monument was erected in honour of these five “language heroes.”

The UNESCO resolution aims to promote the use of mother languages, preserve linguistic diversity, and prevent the extinction of languages worldwide.

According to statistics, there are over 7,000 languages in the world, yet 96% of them are spoken by only 4% of the global population. UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage division has warned that more than half of the world’s languages are at risk of extinction, with one language disappearing every two weeks. Without effective measures, only a few hundred languages will remain in the coming centuries.

The survival and development of any language depend on the people who speak it, their culture, traditions, and values. However, these elements can only be preserved and strengthened if the people have sovereignty over their own land.

Unfortunately, since East Turkestan (Ch. “Xinjiang”) fell under Chinese colonial rule, the Chinese government’s assimilation policies have significantly disrupted the Uyghur language. Uyghur generations have been forced to change their script multiple times, causing interruptions in written continuity. Yet, despite these obstacles, the Uyghur language has persisted, passed down from generation to generation.

Uyghur is one of the oldest Turkic languages and has an extensive written history. In Turpan’s Astan Cemetery, an ancient document from year 480 was discovered, written in the Uyghur script based on the Sogdian alphabet.

Since the Orkhon-Uyghur state (established in year 740 ), Uyghurs have used numerous scripts, including the Orkhon-Yenisei script, Sogdian script, Manichaean script, and many others. Uyghur scholars significantly influenced other cultures—in the 13th century, the Uyghur scholar Tata Tonga adapted the Uyghur script for the Mongols, a script still in use today.

Archaeological evidence confirms that Uyghurs have used at least 13 different scripts throughout history, including: Orkhon-Yenisei, Old Uyghur, Sogdian, Manichaean, Brahmi, Sanskrit, Sak, Chagatai, and others.

Uyghur scholars also produced significant literary works in their language. For example, Mahmud Kashgari’s “Diwan Lughat at-Turk” and Yusuf Khass Hajib’s “Kutadgu Bilig” were written in Uyghur Turkish and later translated into many languages. Recognizing his contributions, UNESCO declared 2008 the “International Mahmud Kashgari Year.”

Uyghur belongs to the Altaic language family, specifically the Eastern Turkic (Uyghur-Qarluq) branch, making it closely related to Uzbek. According to linguistic rankings, Uyghur is among the top 100 most widely spoken languages in the world, ranked 98th.

Despite its rich history, the Uyghur language is now in grave danger due to the Chinese government’s policies of cultural genocide. Uyghur-language education has been completely banned in schools. Writers who publish in Uyghur have been imprisoned. Millions of Uyghurs—children, youth, and adults—have been forcibly detained in concentration camps, where they are forced to abandon their language and learn only Chinese. In East Turkestan, Uyghurs cannot celebrate Mother Language Day, speak, write, or publish in their native language without facing severe consequences.

Since it is impossible to protect the Uyghur language inside East Turkestan, the Uyghur diaspora has taken on this responsibility. Uyghurs abroad have established Mother Language Schools to teach children their native tongue. Online Uyghur language courses have been launched. 

Every year on February 21, Uyghurs worldwide celebrate International Mother Language Day with various events, reinforcing the importance of linguistic preservation. At a time when China is actively trying to erase the Uyghur language, preserving and passing it down to future generations is more urgent than ever.

To all those who tirelessly work to protect and teach the Uyghur language—educators, activists, parents, and community members—I express my deepest gratitude. Your efforts are not in vain.

Just as the Bengali students of 1952 gave their lives for their language, you too are making history as defenders of the Uyghur language. You are protecting the soul of a nation, ensuring that future generations can continue to speak, write, and dream in their mother tongue.

On this International Mother Language Day, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Uyghurs and those who stand with us in this struggle.