Uyghur in United States


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Uyghur are a Turkic people whose home is primarily in northwestern China. Their origins can be traced back to Turkic nomads who lived in Siberia. They became independent of the Turks in 744 AD, but they were forced to leave their homeland in 840 AD. It was then that most of them immigrated to western China, where in modern times they have resided in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. China has chosen to use "Xinjiang" to designate the Uyghur region. The Uyghur people, though, prefer to use "East Turkestan" as the name of the area where they have lived for centuries. There is significance to these names. The Chinese name implies that it is part of China. East Turkestan implies that it is separate, and it emphasizes their Turkic roots. Uyghur literally means "allied. " For centuries, the Uyghur were an important link between China and the rest of the world. They lived along the legendary Silk Road and worked as caravan drivers transporting Chinese goods. The strategic locations of their homes allowed them to be the "middlemen" between East Asia and Europe. One can find significant diasporic communities of Uyghurs in the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Smaller communities live in other countries, including Afghanistan, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United States. In recent years the Chinese government has turned the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region into a police state, in essence imprisoning Uyghur people in huge "re-education" camps. Families have been separated, with many children removed from their parents and taught to think like the Han Chinese. China essentially seeks to destroy the Muslim Uyghur culture, including the use of the Uyghur language and the practice of their Islamic faith. The goal seems to be the forced assimilation of Uyghurs into the Han Chinese-dominated society with no separate identity or culture, and with the Han Chinese in control. In years past, there have been extremist Uyghurs wanting to separate from China. The Chinese appear to have used the threat of Uyghur separatist violence as an excuse to carry out the cultural genocide against the Uyghur people. For this reason, there are Uyghurs who have fled to the US.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Uyghurs began to arrive in the US in the 1960s, but even now there are not that many in the US. The 2010s was a decade when more Uyghurs came to the US because of a crackdown by the Chinese government. The few who have been given refugee status are in Washington DC, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York. They have their own associations, most notably the Uyghur American Association. Recent arrivals must learn a new language and get jobs that usually are not as lucrative as what they had in the old country. All the while they must carry the burden that comes from knowing their Uyghur relatives in China are in harm's way and there is nothing they can do about it. If they dare to criticize the Chinese government in the US, there are people who will take their pictures and if possible, report them to the Chinese government. When that happens, their relatives are in danger of government retaliation. Singing and dancing are important activities at Uyghur cultural events. They play stringed, wind, and percussion instruments. The Mukam ("Twelve Great Melodies") have been part of Uyghur culture for many centuries. They can enjoy their culture and try not to remember their hardships.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Sunni Islam has been the dominant religion of the Uyghur since the tenth century. In the past, they were Muslim in name only; however, there is some renewal that is currently taking place among them since Islam is a rallying point for their struggle to maintain their culture. Since they are new in the US where there is religious freedom, there is the possibility for believers to take Christ to them.


What Are Their Needs?

New Uyghur arrivals in the US need language and job training. Believers can spend time with them conversing in English and keeping an eye out for job opportunities. Others can attend Uyghur cultural events and learn to appreciate their art and music and make friends with these vulnerable Muslims.


Prayer Points

Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will break up the soil through faithful intercession. Pray that the Lord will send loving ambassadors of Christ to the Uyghurs in the United States. Pray for the Holy Spirit to anoint gospel radio broadcasts for Uyghurs and give them hearts willing to listen. Pray for effectiveness of the JESUS Film among the Uyghurs in the United States. Pray the Lord raises up strong local churches among the Uyghurs leading to unstoppable movements to Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Uyghur in United States.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Uyghur
People Name in Country Uyghur
Pronunciation WEE-gur
Alternate Names Huihe; Kashgar; Kashgar Turki; Kashgar-Yarkand; Taranchi; Uigher; Uighuir; Uighur; Uiguir; Uigur; Uygher; Weiwuer; Yuanhe; उयघुर
Population this Country 10,000
Population all Countries 12,315,000
Total Countries 17
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 15755
ROP3 Code 110469
ROP25 Code 308518
ROP25 Name Uyghur
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country California, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country California, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington.   Source:  Ethnologue 2010

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Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Uyghur (10,000 speakers)
Language Code uig   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Uyghur (10,000 speakers)
Language Code uig   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Uyghur

Primary Language:  Uyghur

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1898-1995)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1914-2005)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1950-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Audio Recordings Xush Hewer Uyghur audio Bible General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Uyghur Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Uyghur YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Uyghur YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Download scripture in this language eBible.org
Text / Printed Matter Uyghurche Muqeddes Kitab Jemiyiti General / Other
Photo Source EnricX - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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