What is the history of Uighur separatism?
Although Xinjiang has a long history of Chinese rule, Uighurs have traditionally viewed themselves as having closer cultural and religious ties with the states of Central Asia. In the early part of the twentieth century Uighurs briefly declared present-day Xinjiang an independent state, known as East Turkestan. Uighur communities have survived traditionally on agriculture and trade [GALLO/GETTY] But the region was brought under complete control by Beijing after the communist takeover in 1949. In recent years Uighur groups have been waging a largely low-level separatist campaign, with sporadic bombings and attacks on Chinese businesses and symbols of Chinese rule. Since the 9/11 attacks in the US however, China has increasingly portrayed Uighur separatists as terrorists and says the groups have links to al-Qaeda, although it has produced little evidence to back up those claims. Human-rights groups say hundreds of Uighurs have been harassed or detained by Chinese authorities after being
