The Continued Repression of Uyghurs

The Continued Repression of Uyghurs

From Asia Rising by La Trobe Asia

June 12, 2026 · 19 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the ongoing repression of Uyghurs in China, focusing on new laws that facilitate forced assimilation and cultural erasure.

An escalating crisis faces the Uyghur in China. The newly enacted Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress legalises forced assimilation, erases linguistic rights, and expands state surveillance. It provides a permanent legal framework for the ongoing campaign of mass re-education camps, long-term imprisonment, and cultural erasure of China's minorities. Guest: Yalkun Uluyol (China Researcher, Human Rights Watch) Host: Emeritus Professor James Leibold (Asian Studies, La Trobe University) Recorded 22nd May, 2026.

People in this episode

Host: Emeritus Professor James Leibold

Guest: Yalkun Uluyol

Topics covered

  • Uyghurs
  • human rights
  • ethnic unity
  • cultural erasure
  • state surveillance
  • forced assimilation

Keywords

  • Uyghurs
  • China
  • human rights
  • ethnic unity
  • cultural erasure
  • state surveillance
  • forced assimilation
  • mass re-education camps

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Human Rights Watch

Places: China

More episodes of Asia Rising

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Asia Rising podcast page.