Uygur

Uyghurs, also spelled Uygur, are a Turkic-speaking ethnic group primarily based in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China. They constitute the region’s largest non-Han population and have historical ties to the Tarim Basin and the Silk Road.

Language and script: The Uyghur language belongs to the Karluk branch of Turkic languages. In Xinjiang it has traditionally been written in an Arabic-derived script; in diaspora communities, Latin and Cyrillic scripts are also used.

Religion and culture: The majority of Uyghurs are Muslim, predominantly following the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam. Uyghur culture encompasses distinctive music, dance, literature, dress, and cuisine, with dishes such as laghman and plov playing notable roles in social and ceremonial life.

History and contemporary context: Uyghurs trace origins to medieval Turkic populations in the Tarim Basin. Over centuries they formed a distinct ethnic identity in the region. Since 1949, Xinjiang has been an autonomous region within the People’s Republic of China. In recent decades, state policies relating to religion, education, language and cultural expression have drawn international attention, with officials emphasizing stability and anti-extremism and critics raising concerns about cultural and religious rights.

Diaspora and population: There are substantial Uyghur communities outside Xinjiang, notably in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and various countries in Europe and North America. Global Uyghur communities often seek to preserve language and cultural traditions while adapting to their new environments.