Uyghur

Stateless

Uyghurs residing abroad face the perilous prospect of becoming Stateless as their Chinese government denies the renewal of their expiring passports. Those brave Uyghurs who return to the mainland have disappeared, while those who let their passports expire live under constant threat of deportation from the country that they reside in and back to the custody of Chinese authorities. This violation of a fundamental human right serves as a weapon against the Uyghur community, placing them in danger of being confined within the ethnographic religious internment camps. Within China’s borders, Uyghurs endure severe restrictions on their freedom of movement and in some recent periods requiring them to hold an internal passport. Their daily lives are plagued by oppressive surveillance and control.

In this portrait, a Uyghur woman is adorned in resplendent traditional attire. She is wearing a long dress featuring delicately embroidered and beaded sheer sleeves. Importantly to mark her heritage, the woman is crowned with a dopa. This square skullcap finishes the ensemble by displaying her customary oversized earrings. Through the window in the background, we catch a glimpse of the Uyghur homeland, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, nestled in the vast expanse of northeast China. The hues of blue and white in the landscape mirror the Uyghur national flag, known as the Kokbayraq, which evokes a proud sense of identity and resilience.