Alp Uyghur
Aksu — October 2025. A newly obtained video reviewed by Uyghur Times reveals that local authorities in Aksu have organized mass performances in which Uyghur women were ordered to abandon their traditional clothing, wear Han-style dresses, and perform Han Chinese dances.
The event, held in early October and presented as a “cultural unity celebration,” underscores the Chinese government’s continued campaign to forcibly assimilate Uyghurs into the dominant Han culture under the guise of “ethnic harmony.”
In the footage, groups of Uyghur women—many appearing to be community members and government employees—are seen dressed in identical red Han-style costumes, performing synchronized dances under banners promoting “national unity.” Observers say such performances are not voluntary cultural exchanges but carefully choreographed displays of loyalty to the state.
Osmanjan Memet, a Netherlands-based Uyghur, wrote on Facebook that “this is not culture; it’s clear those Uyghur women do not wish to dress in the Chinese way. It’s an attempt to assimilate them by force.”
Analysts and human rights experts note that the targeting of Uyghur women has a specific and devastating impact. Historically, women have been central to preserving Uyghur traditions—through language, dress, cuisine, and the transmission of cultural values within families. Forcing them to adopt and perform Han Chinese culture in public settings undermines this continuity and sends a broader message of submission.
The government achieves two aims,” said Tahir Imin, Uyghur scholar and founder of Uyghur Times. “First, it turns assimilation into a public spectacle to showcase conformity. Second, it seeks to break the chain through which Uyghur culture is passed from mothers to their children.
Beijing continues to promote its “ethnic unity” campaigns across Uyghur homeland, portraying them as efforts to foster social cohesion. Yet, beneath the official slogans lies a coercive strategy: Uyghurness is permitted only when stripped of its authentic symbols, language, and faith.
The Aksu performance illustrates how deeply cultural repression has penetrated everyday life. For Uyghur women, the body itself has become a contested space—forced to enact loyalty through dance and appearance, serving as a visual tool in the state’s project of control.
Alp Uyghur, a Virginia-based Uyghur writer for Uyghur Times.