Turkistan Times – 10 January 2026
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) Weekly Brief published on January 09, 2026, reveals alarming new details regarding China’s ongoing campaign to erase Uyghur identity in East Turkistan. An exclusive investigation by the Associated Press (AP) has exposed leaked police recordings from Kashgar, confirming that authorities are now criminalizing traditional Uyghur music. Folk songs like "Besh pede," which have been central to Uyghur weddings for generations, are now labeled "problematic." Residents caught possessing or sharing these songs face detention and imprisonment. This cultural crackdown extends to daily life, where Islamic greetings such as "As-salamu alaykum" are being forcibly replaced with phrases praising the Communist Party.
The report also highlights the growing threat of China’s transnational repression. In Kazakhstan, the legal case against activist Bekzat Maksutkhan and 18 others on charges of "inciting ethnic hatred" is widely seen as a politically motivated move orchestrated by Beijing to silence critics abroad.
Simultaneously, the WUC denounced recent "staged family visits" organized by the Chinese Consulate in Istanbul. These tours, involving 42 "Xinjiang natives" from Türkiye, are described by WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun as a propaganda tactic designed to whitewash documented human rights abuses and family separations.
Furthermore, the brief notes the release of Uyghur student Kamile Wayit after three years in prison for a simple social media post during the "White Paper Movement." Her case highlights the discriminatory nature of China’s legal system, as Han Chinese protesters faced far lighter consequences for similar actions.
Finally, Uyghur activist Ahmedjan Kasim, speaking to Dutch media, reminded the international community that the 2009 Urumchi massacre and subsequent repressions are rooted in systemic discrimination rather than security concerns. The WUC continues to call for global action against these coordinated efforts to dismantle Uyghur culture and silence the diaspora.
