The Sunday Story: Arresting Your Brothers and Sisters
6Digest
This episode of The Sunday Story delves into the ongoing repression of Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang region, focusing on the stories of two Uyghur men who have played contrasting roles in the crackdown. The episode begins by revisiting Emily Fang's previous reporting on the Kuchar family, Uyghurs facing a brutal crackdown by the Chinese state. Fang then introduces Saber Bogda, a powerful Uyghur businessman with rumored ties to Chinese authorities, who uses his influence to control Uyghur narratives. Fang explores the suspicion and mistrust surrounding Bogda's motives, questioning whether he is genuinely helping Uyghurs or acting as a pawn for the Chinese government. The episode then shifts to the story of "A," a Uyghur man who initially supported the Chinese government's policies but later changed his mind after witnessing the harsh realities of the detention camps. Fang details A's work in the local government, where he was assigned tasks that involved surveilling Uyghurs and reporting on their religious practices. He was later assigned to teach at a detention camp, where he witnessed the strict routine, the political indoctrination, and the harsh treatment of detainees. A's growing doubts about the work he was doing led him to become a police officer in Khorla, where he was assigned to stage a pro-government event at a mosque during Eid. This experience, along with the fear and coercion he witnessed, ultimately led A to escape Xinjiang and leave China. The episode concludes by emphasizing the significance of A's decision to come forward with his story, suggesting it could be a step towards repentance and a way to tell Uyghur stories to the world.
Outlines
Uyghur Repression in Xinjiang: A Story of Complicity and Change
This episode explores the complex realities of Uyghur repression in Xinjiang, examining the role of a powerful Uyghur businessman and the story of a man who initially supported the crackdown but later witnessed its brutality firsthand.
The Power of Influence: Saber Bogda and the Control of Narratives
The episode introduces Saber Bogda, a powerful Uyghur businessman with rumored ties to Chinese authorities, who uses his influence to control Uyghur narratives. Fang explores the suspicion and mistrust surrounding Bogda's motives, questioning whether he is genuinely helping Uyghurs or acting as a pawn for the Chinese government.
A's Story: From Complicity to Resistance
The episode shifts to the story of "A," a Uyghur man who initially supported the Chinese government's policies but later changed his mind after witnessing the harsh realities of the detention camps. Fang details A's work in the local government, where he was assigned tasks that involved surveilling Uyghurs and reporting on their religious practices. He was later assigned to teach at a detention camp, where he witnessed the strict routine, the political indoctrination, and the harsh treatment of detainees.
The Staged Eid Celebration and A's Escape
The episode describes A's role in a staged Eid celebration at a mosque in Kashgar, where children were used to create a false impression of religious freedom and ethnic unity for international media. This experience, along with the fear and coercion he witnessed, ultimately led A to escape Xinjiang and leave China.
Repentance and the Power of Storytelling
The episode concludes by emphasizing the significance of A's decision to come forward with his story, suggesting it could be a step towards repentance and a way to tell Uyghur stories to the world.
Keywords
Uyghur
An ethnic group primarily residing in Xinjiang, China, known for their distinct language and cultural traditions, often facing persecution and cultural suppression.
Xinjiang
A northwestern region of China, home to a diverse population including Uyghurs, where the Chinese government has implemented policies aimed at suppressing Uyghur culture and religion.
Detention Camps
Facilities in Xinjiang, China, where Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities are detained, often without due process, subjected to political indoctrination, forced labor, and other forms of abuse.
Saber Bogda
A powerful Uyghur businessman with rumored ties to Chinese authorities, who uses his influence to control Uyghur narratives and potentially facilitate the Chinese government's crackdown on Uyghurs.
Complicity
The act of being involved in or contributing to something wrong or harmful, often unknowingly or unintentionally, as seen in the case of Uyghurs who have been pressured or coerced into cooperating with the Chinese government.
Cultural Suppression
The systematic effort to eliminate or restrict the expression of a culture, often through policies that target language, religion, and traditional practices, as seen in the Chinese government's policies towards Uyghurs.
Surveillance
The close monitoring of individuals or groups, often through electronic means, to gather information or control their behavior, as seen in the Chinese government's extensive surveillance network in Xinjiang.
Propaganda
The dissemination of information, often biased or misleading, to promote a particular political cause or ideology, as seen in the Chinese government's efforts to portray a positive image of its policies in Xinjiang.
Q&A
What are some of the challenges faced by journalists reporting on the Uyghur situation in Xinjiang?
Journalists face significant challenges, including intimidation and surveillance by Chinese authorities, fear among Uyghurs outside China to speak out, and limited access to the region.
Who is Saber Bogda and what role does he play in the Uyghur community?
Saber Bogda is a powerful Uyghur businessman with rumored ties to Chinese authorities. He claims to be helping Uyghurs by maintaining open lines of communication with the Chinese state, but his motives are questioned due to his ambiguous actions and potential influence on Uyghur narratives.
How does the Chinese government use fear to control Uyghurs?
The Chinese government uses fear to control Uyghurs by creating an atmosphere of surveillance and suspicion, leading to self-censorship and a willingness to betray others to protect themselves.
What is the significance of A's decision to come forward with his story?
A's decision to come forward with his story is significant because it provides a firsthand account of the Chinese government's crackdown on Uyghurs and highlights the complicity of individuals who have been pressured or coerced into cooperating with the state. It also suggests a potential path towards repentance and accountability.
Show Notes
NPR Correspondent Emily Feng has been reporting on Uyghurs inside and outside of China for years. In this episode, she profiles two Uyghur men who have found themselves sometimes unwilling actors within the Chinese state's systems of control over Uyghurs. As they work to silence others, they sometimes find themselves silenced as well.
Additional Context:
Listen to Emily Feng's 2022 reporting, "The Black Gate: A Uyghur Family's Story" part one and part two.
For more on the history of the Uyghur people, listen to the episode "Five Fingers Crush The Land" from NPR's Throughline podcast.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
Table of contents
United States
