What to read to understand Xinjiang

IN RECENT years Xinjiang, a region in far west China, has become a byword for the worst human rights abuses in China. Over 1m Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities have been detained in concentration camps in the region; many of their children have been removed to state-run boarding schools. Chinese Communist Party cadres have moved into Uyghur households to monitor residents for signs of religiosity. Mosques and graves have been razed. China justifies its actions as a campaign against Islamic extremism. But it is clear that the Uyghur identity itself is the target of the Communist Party’s campaign. Uyghurs speak their own language and have a distinct culture. To understand what is under attack in Xinjiang, we recommend these books and articles, one documentary and a collection of poetry.