As the pandemic continues, wildfires rage and social justice movements rise, it is clear that we, as a humanity, need to fight stronger against the injustice that seeks to divide us. Among these injustices is the treatment of the Uighur Muslims by the Chinese government. While the international community has been aware of this issue for years, it has gained recent attention through Disney’s release of Mulan and its ties to the fast fashion industry. Before asking what we can do, let’s take a look at who the Uighurs are and some of the ways they are being repressed. 

Who are the Uighurs

The Uighurs are a Muslim Turkic minority, 11 million of whom reside in the Xinjiang province of China—an autonomous region under Chinese Communist control since the 1940s. Uighur communities also reside in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, though in much smaller numbers. 

What is happening 

Over the years, the Chinese government has encouraged Han Chinese, the majority ethnic group, to move to the region and has implemented policies and practices to remove the rights of the Uighur population. There have been disappearances of Uighur activists, and many areas of Xinjiang have been transitioned into a police state as a means of control and surveillance of Uighurs. The government has criminalized Islam, prohibiting fasting for Ramdan since 2014 and continuing to close down mosques. Uighur women have been forcibly sterilized, some even forced to have abortions, to limit population growth. They have also been used as cheap and forced labor for many of the biggest fashion brands. Perhaps the most organized attempt at cultural erasure is the “reeducation camps” that the government has used to detain an estimated 1 to 3 million Uighurs. While the government claims they focus on job skills training, there have been reports of forced Communist indoctrination, torture, waterboarding, and sexual abuse. 

What can I do

1. Call out the brands who continue to use Uighur labor, knowing that it is exploitative.
2. Sign the petition to boycott Mulan and call on Disney to take action that helps the Uighurs they harmed in the making of the movie.
3. Support organizations like Save Uighur, Uyghur Projects Foundation, and Uyghur Human Rights Project.
4. Learn about Uighur culture through the resources offered by these organizations.
5. Talk about the issue within your circles — information is power.

We’re all stronger when we stand together.