Here are some images of the graveyard and shrines before the government flattened them.pic.twitter.com/7kugbalBru
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The Chinese government has now destroyed the central Uyghur graveyard in Khotan. It was also the site of several sacred shrines.pic.twitter.com/lw3Q4OSvy6
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Some Uyghurs have explained that this notice, which warns that the bodies will be removed, refers to this graveyard. I know the place as “Topraq Beshi” and this doc says “Sultanim,” but these places often have multiple names, and I don’t remember if “Sultanim” was used here.pic.twitter.com/kU8kx7kOep
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The document refers to this graveyard as the "property of the city" of Khotan. Bodies will be moved to Imam Musa Kazim graveyard. Relatives have a six-day window to ID graves for the gov, after which it will be "their own responsibility" if ancestors become "unclaimed corpses"
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Someone likely put themselves at risk to smuggle the image of this notice out of China.
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Like many of the government's actions that eradicate Uyghur culture from the landscape, this one is justified in terms of development and beautification.
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Here is another graveyard recently destroyed, this one on the western outskirts of Khotan. H/t to the Uyghur netizen who pointed it out to me.pic.twitter.com/neFAZqEENw
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Some people would pray weekly at their relatives graves, tidy them up, perhaps sprinkle some grain or corn to attract birds. Some would pray at the grave of the saint in the 1st photo above, asking for intercession. Impoverished people would gather here too, seeking alms.
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ئۇيغۇر دوستلار، يېڭى بىر"يوقاپ كەتكەن تۇققانلار ۋە دوستلىرىنى مەلۇم قىلىش جېدىۋىلى" بار. بۇ تور بىكەت ئارقىلىق يوقاپ كەتكەن كىشلەرنىڭ ئۇچۇرلارنى ھۆكۈمەتلەر ۋە تەشكىلاتلارغا يېتكۈزۈش مۇمكىن. تور بىكەت ئۈزىڭىزنىڭ نامىنى، باشقا ئۇچۇرلارنى ساقلىمايدۇ: https://izdeymiz.org/
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Second-hand info says Sultanim is indeed the right name for the cemetery in the first tweet.
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Satellite imagery from
@googleearth (note: you have to use the free Google Earth software, not Google Maps). Dial in these coordinates to see imagery. Use the clock button to change dates. 37 07’ 03” N; 79 56’ 02” EShow this thread -
Update: the image of the graveyard notice is from AFP's
@pakwayne, who shot it in Khotan. It seems to have leaked out to a corner of the Uyghur exile community.Show this thread -
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Pro-Chinese-government trolls/bots are now engaged. They are not sure what to do about satellite photo evidence. Check out those twitter handles!pic.twitter.com/66wtDC1DVt
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Context for this cemetery destruction: The Chinese gov currently holds about 1 million or more Uyghurs and other minorities in mass internment camps in Xinjiang, and has instituted a vast program to assimilate Uyghurs to Han Chinese culture.https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/08/22/chinas-mass-internment-camps-have-no-clear-end-in-sight/ …
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Which sacred sites
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See the photos of the graves. The first one is a shrine. I think it might be called Sultanim but my memory is hazy and I can't find my notes at the moment. I never got anyone to tell me the story of who is buried there. Photos are from 2015.
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China are determined to eradicate the Uyghurs and thier culture. Even the dead cannot rest. Heartbreaking to see this latest atrocity, and soul destroying for the people. The silence of world governments and Muslim countries is unbelievable.
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Muslim governments.. Not Muslim countries.
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