China accused of erasing religion, culture from Uighur village names

A report by the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) has alleged that Chinese authorities are systematically changing the names of villages in Xinjiang, stripping them of their Uyghur identity and replacing them with names reflecting Chinese culture. The report, titled "Erasing Identity: How China is Changing the Names of Uyghur Villages in Xinjiang," provides evidence of over 200 village name changes. The UHRP claims that this is part of a broader campaign to assimilate Uyghurs and erase their cultural heritage. The report highlights the use of Han Chinese names and place names in the newly assigned names, often linked to Chinese historical figures, deities, or landscapes. The report accuses the Chinese government of using this tactic to erase Uyghur identity and impose a sense of Chinese cultural hegemony on the region. They believe these changes are meant to minimize Uyghur history and cultural significance, while at the same time promoting a Chinese narrative of historical dominance in the region. The report also points out that the renaming process lacks transparency, with no information about the rationale behind the changes being made available to the public, including the Uyghur residents of the affected villages.

Summary

"The UHRP's report accuses Chinese authorities of systematically changing village names in Xinjiang, aiming to erase Uyghur identity and replace it with Chinese culture. The report highlights the lack of transparency in the renaming process and the impact of these changes on Uyghur cultural heritage."