25/10/2025
The Uyghur genocide, recognized by several countries since 2020, has brought belated international attention to the plight of this Turkic ethnic group from what they call East Turkistan (Xinjiang). Yet challenges persist, including countries like Thailand returning Uyghur refugees to China, where they face immediate imprisonment.
Dilnur Reyhan, founder of The European Uyghur Institute and researcher at the Czech Academy of Sciences, shared insights on the diaspora's struggles in a recent interview with Global Voices.
A Dream Realized
After years operating as volunteers, the European Uyghur Institute opened its own building in Paris—a seemingly impossible achievement. "Nobody believed in our success when we launched it," Reyhan said, comparing it to their successful campaign for French parliamentary recognition of the Uyghur genocide. Both victories came from "iron will and indestructible resilience."
Colonial Trauma and Transnational Repression
Seventy-five years of Chinese Communist Party rule, preceded by Manchu colonialism, has left deep scars. The diaspora struggles with collective trauma: loss of confidence, mistrust, and fear of community participation. China's harsh transnational repression reinforces this "culture of silence," making collective mobilization incredibly difficult.
Decolonizing Narratives
Many Chinese, including dissidents, frame the Uyghur crisis merely as human rights violations rather than recognizing the colonial relationship. "Reducing a people to the status of a 'minority' validates colonization," Reyhan explained. The Institute is developing multilingual media to decolonize minds—targeting progressive Chinese diaspora youth alongside Uyghur, English, and French audiences.
Hope in the Next Generation
Young diaspora Uyghurs offer hope. They're progressive, feminist, multilingual, and innovative activists. The Institute's 2024 International Secular Uyghur Youth Congress brought 100 young Uyghurs to Paris to discuss colonialism, feminism, and new forms of activism—signaling a more politically conscious future for the community.
