Uyghur

The Uyghurs are a Turkic-speaking ethnic group native to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, with sizable communities across Central Asia and a global diaspora. In Xinjiang they are the largest ethnic group, with communities also in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Russia, and elsewhere.

The Uyghur language is a Karluk Turkic language traditionally written with an Arabic-derived script; Cyrillic and Latin scripts have also been used at various times. Modern standard Uyghur uses an Arabic-based alphabet.

Most Uyghurs are Muslim, predominantly followers of Sunni Islam in the Hanafi school, with religious practice and ritual life shaping daily routines and community life.

Historically, the name Uyghur derives from the Uyghur Khaganate of the 8th–9th centuries in the Tarim Basin. The region later became part of the Qing dynasty; in 1955 Xinjiang was designated an autonomous region within the People's Republic of China.

Uyghur culture includes the muqam musical tradition, dance, and crafts, as well as distinctive cuisine such as laghman, polo (pilaf), kebabs, and samsa. The Uyghur muqam is inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In recent decades, Xinjiang policies have drawn international attention regarding security, religious regulation, and cultural rights. The government describes measures as anti-extremism and development efforts; critics cite surveillance, restrictions on language and religious practice, and reports of mass detention and re-education programs.