China has been accused of changing the names of hundreds of villages in Xinjiang in an attempt to erase Uyghur Muslim culture, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The renaming of villages over a 14-year period, from 2009 to 2023, has seen the removal of words related to Uyghur religion, history, and culture and replaced with terms reflecting Chinese Communist Party ideology.
The move to replace names like “sultan” and “shrine” with words like “harmony” and “happiness” has raised concerns about cultural erasure and assimilation efforts by the Chinese government. This systematic change in village names is seen as part of a broader crackdown on Uyghur population in Xinjiang, where there are reports of human rights abuses.
The allegations of changing village names to reflect government propaganda and erase Uyghur cultural and religious identity have drawn criticism from human rights organizations, with calls for accountability and justice for the affected population. The timing of these name changes, predominantly between 2017 and 2019, coincides with increased hostilities against the Uyghur population in Xinjiang.
This latest report by HRW adds to a growing body of evidence pointing to systematic rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in China, despite Beijing’s denial of the accusations. The renaming of villages to align with Chinese Communist Party ideology is seen as part of broader efforts to assert control and conformity among minority populations in the country.
The international community continues to raise concerns about the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China, calling for transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights. The impact of these name changes on Uyghur culture and identity is significant, highlighting the need for ongoing attention and action to address the erasure of cultural heritage and religious expression in Xinjiang.
