“The Uyghurs will only walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever!”
All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. (Micah 4:5, NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | East Asia
Population | 25 million
Area | 1,665,000㎢; Occupies about 10% of the northwestern territory of China.
Capital City | Urumqi (2.4 million)
People Groups | Uyghur 45%, Han 40%, Kazakh 6.5%, Hui 4.5%
People Groups Unreached | 0
Official Language(s) | Uyghur
Bible Translations | Completed 6
Religions | Christianity 4.3% (house church 3.2%, Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee of China Christian Church (TSPM) 0.7%), Islam 61.4%, Lamaism 1.4%
》 About the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China has long been an important location on the Silk Road, connecting East Asia and the Islamic world. Islam was introduced to the region around the 10th century. China has fought many wars in this area over the centuries. Although Xinjiang was merged with China during the Qing Dynasty in the 18th century, the central government lost some influence over time because of the region’s distance. However, in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party sent troops to reclaim the region, and in 1955, Xinjiang was officially designated as an autonomous region.
The discovery of large oil and other underground resources in Xinjiang led the Chinese government to encourage the migration of Han Chinese to the area. As a result, the Han population increased to around 40%. As the Han people took control of most of the economic benefits from these resources, the Uygur population became increasingly dissatisfied.
The Uygur people have long opposed what they see as attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to erase their Islamic faith and Uygur identity. They have supported independence movements through groups like the East Turkestan Government in Exile, the United National Revolutionary Front (UNRF), and the East Turkestan Islamic Party. In 1997, a major uprising occurred, and in 2009, 197 people died when Chinese authorities harshly suppressed a protest in Urumqi demanding independence. Uygur militants have also been linked to terrorist attacks, such as the 2013 car bombing in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and the 2014 knife attack at Kunming Railway Station, which left 31 people dead.
To prevent further violence and unrest, the Chinese government has detained Uygur Muslims who are seen as Islamic extremists or anti-government activists in detention camps. Authorities also use facial recognition technology in public spaces to identify and arrest potential terror suspects. Since 2017, strict birth control measures have been enforced in Xinjiang, including forced sterilizations and mandatory birth control pills, which many believe are deliberate attempts to reduce the population of minority groups.
* The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has reported that the Chinese government is detaining more than a million Uygur people and other Muslim minorities in detention camps and prisons in Xinjiang. It stated that women were forced to undergo sterilizations, and cases of rape and torture have been reported. The committee also mentioned that forced labor and political indoctrination were imposed on citizens.
The economy of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is heavily based on agriculture. More than half of the grain production comes from wheat, alongside other major crops like corn, rice, cotton, canola, black sesame, sugar beets, and various fruits. Xinjiang produces about 90% of China’s long-staple cotton. It ranks 5th in sugar beet production and 8th in cotton yarn production nationwide.
Xinjiang is also well-known for its fruit production, especially grapes, melons, pears, and walnuts. The region has the highest number of sheep and camels in China.
Xinjiang’s oil, petrochemical, and textile industries play a key role nationwide. Its oil fields produce around 20 million tons of oil per year, making it the fourth-largest oil-producing region in China. The textile industry contributes 67% of the region’s total industrial output. Oil and gas extraction is actively conducted, with pipelines connecting Xinjiang to Shanghai through the East-West pipeline. The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region’s GDP per capita is approximately $2,900.
》 Scripture Focus
| Micah 4:1-5(NIV) 1. In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. 2. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 4. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. 5. All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. |
》 Prayer Points
1. The Uyghur population in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is about 12 million, most of whom are Muslims. Christianity was first introduced to the people by the Nestorian Church in the 6th century. By 1009, over 200,000 people in the Kirghiz tribe had been baptized, and the faith flourished in the 13th century. However, they were later either killed or forced to convert back to Islam. In 1892, Swedish missionaries resumed their work among the Uyghurs, gaining over 300 converts by the 1930s. Unfortunately, in 1933, missionaries were expelled, and many Christians were executed by the ruler, Abdullah Khan. Currently, only 0.01% of Uyghurs are Christians, and therefore, it is important to nurture and strengthen them in their faith. We thank God that the Uyghur Bible was fully translated in 2018.
Let us pray that Bibles, audio materials, and other resources will be shared with Uyghur house churches through radio and the internet. Let us also pray that more workers will be sent to the Uyghur people to help them trust in God and follow Him forever.
2. Due to China’s resettlement policy, 40% of Xinjiang’s population is now Han Chinese, which has led to mistrust and conflict between Han and Uyghur people. About 1 million Christians live in Xinjiang, most of whom are Han, and they have little contact with the local Uyghurs, making it hard to share the gospel. Mission work in the region began in the mid-1980s, but after the 2009 Uyghur riots, it became much harder for foreign missionaries to get visas, and most had to leave by 2018.
Let us pray that the Han churches in Xinjiang will be filled with the gospel of the cross. Ask God to enable them to reach not only other Han people but also the Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and Hui people. May God prepare a way for Xinjiang to come to His house.
3. Over 1 million Uyghurs are being held in detention camps by the Chinese government, facing violence, torture, rape, and brainwashing. Orphans have had their identities changed, and Uyghur women are forced into marriage with Han men. Those in re-education centers are made to abandon their religion, culture, and identity, learn Chinese, and pledge loyalty to the Communist Party. Uyghur leaders say these camps are meant to wipe out their culture. Xinjiang is rich in natural resources and is in a strategically important location, so the Chinese government does not allow the region any real autonomy.
Let us pray that God will bring justice between the Chinese government and the Uyghur people and prevent further violence or war. May God’s kingdom come to Xinjiang so that the people can live with safety and without fear.
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