Deep Dive
What is the scale of the Chinese government's detentions in Xinjiang?
From 2017 to 2021, the State Department estimates that more than 1 million historically Muslim minority adults were detained in Xinjiang.
Why did the Chinese government start detaining Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic groups?
The Chinese government claims the detentions are part of a campaign to eradicate terrorism, extremism, and separatism, targeting those they consider sympathetic to extremism.
What happened to Abdullatif Kucar's family in 2017?
Abdullatif's wife, Mariam, and their two children were detained by Chinese authorities, and he lost all contact with them.
How did the Chinese government justify the detention camps in Xinjiang?
They referred to them as Vocational Education and Employment Training Centers, claiming they were aimed at educating Uyghurs in Communist Party ideology and Mandarin to make them more 'Chinese'.
What were some of the arbitrary reasons for detaining Uyghurs in Xinjiang?
Detentions were based on reasons such as men having long beards, women wearing a veil, and Uyghurs applying for passports.
How did the 9/11 attacks impact Uyghurs in China?
The attacks gave China an opportunity to escalate its crackdown on Uyghurs, framing the issue as a terrorism problem and intensifying surveillance and restrictions on Uyghur culture and religion.
What was the role of Abduweli Ayyub in the story?
Abduweli Ayyub was a Uyghur activist, translator, and former political prisoner who helped with translation and interpretation for the reporting on Abdullatif Kucar's story.
What was the Black Gate in Xinjiang?
The Black Gate was a term used by Uyghurs to describe the vast network of detention camps where hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities were interned by the Chinese government.
How did the Chinese government's policies affect Uyghur culture?
The government targeted religious and intellectual figures, leading to the disappearance of many cultural producers, such as writers and musicians, and making daily life nearly impossible for openly religious families.
What challenges did Abdullatif Kucar face in reporting his story?
Abdullatif faced intimidation from the Chinese state, even while living in Turkey, and was initially hesitant to speak out due to fears for the safety of his family still in China.