the upcoming Lunar New Year. Ding Lei/Xinhua via Getty Images
In Xinjiang, China, Uyghurs are reportedly being compelled to partake in Lunar New Year celebrations, engaging in activities like Chinese dances and song performances. This push comes despite a recent 7.1-magnitude earthquake in the region, which resulted in casualties and displacements, as noted by Radio Free Asia (RFA).
Traditionally, the Lunar New Year is not celebrated by the Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic group with distinct cultural practices from the Han Chinese majority. However, state media portrayals suggest a different story, showing Uyghurs preparing for the holiday with enthusiasm.
Rune Steenberg, an anthropologist familiar with the area, criticized these actions as propaganda by the Chinese government, aiming to showcase a harmonious blend of cultures. “This is China‘s propaganda,” Steenberg remarked to RFA, highlighting the disparity between the government’s narrative and the actual sentiments of the Uyghur community.
Furthermore, a new policy in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture seeks to integrate Han Chinese, ethnic Kazakhs, and Uyghurs through mixed housing and cultural activities. This initiative extends the effort to merge different ethnic traditions under a unified Chinese cultural banner.
Social media and Chinese news outlets have shown Uyghur youths rehearsing for New Year performances, an image that contrasts sharply with the community’s real struggles and grievances. In places like Kashgar, traditional Chinese decorations have been put up, further promoting the festive spirit.
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However, experts and activists argue that these measures are part of a broader agenda to erase Uyghur cultural identity, labeling it as “ethnic genocide.” Leo Maillet from the University of Geneva pointed to severe policies like mass arrests and forced assimilation practices that have been in place since 2017.
The international community, including the United States and Western nations, has expressed concern over China‘s treatment of Uyghurs, with some labeling it as genocide and a crime against humanity.
Despite the outward appearance of festive preparations, the coercion behind these celebrations leaves a bitter taste, with Uyghurs unable to voice their discontent. Maillet warns that such forced assimilation could lead to increased resentment rather than cultural integration.
This complex situation in Xinjiang sheds light on the ongoing tensions between preserving cultural identity and the push for a unified national culture, as reported by Radio Free Asia.
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