Uyghur Women Activists in the Diaspora: Restorying a Genocide

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Presenting the life stories of ten Uyghur women, this book applies the techniques of narrative analysis to explore their changing worldviews and conversions to political engagement. Born and raised in East Turkestan/Xinjiang in the 1970s-90s, each woman, after personally experiencing incidents of ethnic discrimination, chose to leave China before 2005. Settling in a western country, they strive to become the voice of the Turkic people who are silenced or detained in the re-education camps.

The narratives are based on interviews conducted online between 2020 and 2021, collected as a form of oral history. The book focuses on the escalating tensions, turning points experienced in their youth, and the religious, political and psychological factors that prompted their transformations in self-identity, ideology and the emergence of a new UyghurMuslim feminism.

Through the womens stories, the book describes how women activists are navigating the competing reality constructions of the dire situation in the Uyghur Homeland and actively restorying a genocide to bring about social and political change.

Reviews

This is the first book to specifically highlight the critical role Uyghur women in diaspora have played in bringing attention to the challenges that Uyghurs face today. These oral histories reveal the fortitude of a community under duress, and are an important backdrop for examining Uyghur activism through a gender lens. * Rebecca Clothey, Professor of Global Studies, Drexel University, USA *
Uyghur Women Activists in the Diaspora goes beyond mere storytelling. It delves into the complex interplay of religion, politics, and psychology that fueled the womens evolving self-identities and ideologies ... Through their powerful narratives, the book exposes the competing narratives surrounding the dire situation in East Turkestan. By restorying a genocide, as the title suggests, these women actively challenge the erasure of their experiences and demand international recognition of the injustices they and their community face. Uyghur Women Activists in the Diaspora serves as a potent testament to the resilience and courage of Uyghur women. * Uyghur Times *
This short book is a classroom-friendly text. It can certainly be used in Womens Studies courses. Because it intersects with so many subjects, such as women in Islam, feminist theory, global studies, genocide, and activism, it is sure to find a place in many classrooms. As a reference, this book is an invaluable resource. * Nova Religio *

Author Bio

Susan J. Palmer is an Affiliate Professor at Concordia University, and a Lecturer and Researcher at McGill University. She has authored or co-edited many books on new religious movements.

Dilmurat Mahmut is an independent researcher, and his research interests include Muslim identity in the West, immigrant/refugee integration and Uyghur diaspora identity.

Abdulmuqtedir Udun is a Uyghur researcher, journalist and interpreter based in Ottawa, Canada.