Reports expose expansion of orphanage-style schools for Uyghur children in China
Uyghur Children in China: Orphanage-Style Schools Expand Despite Claims of Camp Closures
In Washington, DC, reports have emerged about the ongoing operation and expansion of orphanage-style boarding schools for Uyghur children in China. These schools are for children whose parents have been detained by Xinjiang authorities since 2017. Despite Chinese government claims that the internment camps have closed, evidence from local police and teachers shows these schools are still active, especially in regions like Yarkand, Kashgar, Aksu, and Hotan.
At least six such schools are currently operational. A police officer from Yarkand county described her role in transporting children to these dormitory-style facilities, where they are isolated from their families. The Chinese government claims these camps are for vocational training, but reports from human rights groups and former detainees suggest they are indoctrination centers aimed at erasing Uyghur cultural identity.
These "Little Angels" schools are part of a broader scheme to monitor and indoctrinate children, with police and teachers tracking their psychological and ideological states. Records are kept on each child, noting emotional responses and resistance to the state narrative. The environment resembles a detention facility, with barbed wire and police patrols, despite reports of children being well-fed.
The mass incarceration of Uyghur adults and separation of children has led to around 500,000 Uyghur children being placed in state-run institutions. This effort to erase Uyghur culture is seen as a violation of human rights and part of China's campaign of cultural genocide, as noted by a 2021 report from the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy.
Doubts Revealed
Uyghur
Uyghurs are a group of people who mostly live in a region called Xinjiang in China. They have their own unique culture, language, and religion, which is different from the majority of people in China.
Orphanage-Style Schools
These are special schools where children live and study, similar to an orphanage where children without parents stay. In this context, they are for Uyghur children whose parents are not around because they are detained.
Camp Closures
This refers to the closing of places where Uyghur adults were being held by the government. The government claimed these camps were closed, but reports suggest otherwise.
Indoctrination Centers
These are places where people are taught to accept certain beliefs or ideas. In this case, the schools are said to teach Uyghur children to forget their own culture and adopt the majority culture in China.
Cultural Genocide
This means trying to destroy the culture of a group of people. It involves actions that make it hard for people to continue their cultural practices, language, and traditions.
Human Rights
These are basic rights and freedoms that all people should have, like the right to live freely, to speak their language, and to practice their culture.
Yarkand and Kashgar
These are places in the Xinjiang region of China where many Uyghur people live. They are known for their rich history and cultural significance to the Uyghur community.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *