Postcards from Xinjiang: A Photo Essay

01/08/2022Ruth Ingram |

When a picture is worth a thousand words. Images you will not see in Chinese propaganda about the “good life” of Uyghurs in the Autonomous Region.

by Ruth Ingram

Xinjiang’s surveillance system, powered by Hikvision, whose tentacles spread unchallenged throughout the world, even into the heart of London and many UK cities. — Xinjiang’s surveillance system, powered by Hikvision, whose tentacles spread unchallenged throughout the world, even into the heart of London and many UK cities.

Xinjiang’s mosques that remain, encircled with razor wire. — Xinjiang’s mosques that remain, encircled with razor wire.

The founder of China’s Communist state, enjoying a revival in Xinjiang, protected here by razor wire encircling a government building in Turpan. — The founder of China’s Communist state, enjoying a revival in Xinjiang, protected here by razor wire encircling a government building in Turpan.

Self defence tips outside a swimming costume shop in downtown Urumqi. Everyone is on high alert in China’s war on terror. — Self defence tips outside a swimming costume shop in downtown Urumqi. Everyone is on high alert in China’s war on terror.

Children’s toys replaced here by the new weapon of choice for locally appointed vigilante groups that roam around city streets to keep people in order. Business is brisk in this carpentry workshop with their latest product.

New rules about head coverings for women sprang up over night around cities and villages. Here this sign decorated the street of a suburban Kazakh settlement outside Urumqi. — New rules about head coverings for women sprang up over night around cities and villages. Here this sign decorated the street of a suburban Kazakh settlement outside Urumqi.

The tell tale padlocked door from the outside denoting another family that has been taken away in Kashgar. — The tell tale padlocked door from the outside denoting another family that has been taken away in Kashgar.

Ordinary citizens drafted in as home guard to keep their compatriots in order. Here learning to wield long poles. — Ordinary citizens drafted in as home guard to keep their compatriots in order. Here learning to wield long poles.

Children play past propaganda posters painted onto village homes. Here the perils of straying off the government path into extreme Islam are illustrated graphically. — Children play past propaganda posters painted onto village homes. Here the perils of straying off the government path into extreme Islam are illustrated graphically.