Key Points:
- China bans Uyghur folk song “Besh Pede” and other traditional music in Xinjiang
- Possessing or sharing banned songs on mobile phones and social media is now a serious crime
- Uyghur music producer sentenced to three years in prison for composing and sharing songs
- Islamic greeting “Assalamu Alaikum” prohibited, replaced with Communist Party loyalty slogans
- Police meeting in Kashgar in October clarified strict legal action for sharing “suspicious” songs
- UN 2022 report stated human rights violations in Xinjiang could amount to crimes against humanity
- China claims measures are necessary for counter-terrorism and maintaining regional stability
Chinese authorities in Xinjiang have banned several traditional folk songs and contemporary Uyghur-language songs, labeling them “suspicious” and potentially subversive. Among the prohibited pieces is “Besh Pede,” a famous folk song that has been an integral part of Uyghur weddings and family celebrations for generations. The song expresses a young man’s prayers to God for love and a happy life, containing no references to violence or extremism, yet it has been placed on the banned list alongside other culturally significant works.
According to experts monitoring the region, the ban extends to at least 30 traditional songs that form the core of Uyghur musical heritage. Following a police meeting in Kashgar in October 2025, authorities made it explicitly clear that sharing such songs through any medium would result in strict legal action. The crackdown represents a systematic effort to erase cultural markers that distinguish Uyghur identity from Han Chinese culture, part of a broader assimilation campaign that has accelerated since 2017.
Punishments and Legal Consequences
Possessing banned songs on mobile phones or sharing them on social media platforms is now considered a serious crime punishable by harsh prison sentences. In a recent incident that highlights the severity of enforcement, a prominent Uyghur music producer was sentenced to three years in prison simply for composing and sharing traditional songs online. The producer, whose name has been withheld by family members fearing reprisal, was detained without trial for six months before the sentence was handed down in a closed-door hearing.
Human rights organizations report that at least 47 musicians, singers, and music teachers have been imprisoned in Xinjiang since 2023 for creating or performing traditional Uyghur music. Sentences range from two to seven years, with some individuals sent to “re-education” camps without any formal charges. The Chinese government has established a digital surveillance system that scans mobile devices for banned content, automatically flagging users who possess or transmit prohibited songs.
Suppression of Religious Expression
The cultural suppression campaign extends far beyond music into fundamental aspects of religious identity. The administration has banned the use of the traditional Islamic greeting “Assalamu Alaikum,” instructing people to replace it with slogans and phrases that demonstrate loyalty to the Communist Party. This policy applies in schools, government offices, public spaces, and even private conversations in some monitored areas.
Authorities have also prohibited traditional Islamic names for newborns, restricted fasting during Ramadan for government employees, and banned religious education for children under 18. Mosques have been demolished or converted into community centers, with an estimated 16,000 mosques damaged or destroyed since 2017. The ban on religious greetings represents a strategic effort to suppress Islamic beliefs and impose communist ideology, fundamentally altering daily social interactions among Uyghurs.
International Condemnation and Human Rights Concerns
These actions have raised deep concerns in the international community, with human rights organizations documenting systematic cultural genocide. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International claim that between 2017 and 2024, approximately 1.2 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities were held in detention camps without trial, though Chinese authorities dispute these figures. The United Nations stated in its August 2022 report that the human rights violations occurring in Xinjiang could amount to crimes against humanity.
In 2025, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution calling for China to allow independent investigators access to Xinjiang, which Beijing rejected as interference in internal affairs. The United States, the European Union, and several Muslim-majority countries have imposed sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for Xinjiang policies. However, China has consistently denied allegations of human rights abuses, claiming that these measures were taken to control terrorism and religious extremism, thereby maintaining peace and stability in the region.
China’s Counter-Narrative and Justification
Chinese officials maintain that their policies in Xinjiang are necessary counter-terrorism measures following violent incidents in the early 2010s. The government claims that “extremist” cultural practices, including certain songs and religious expressions, contributed to radicalization among some Uyghurs. State media portrays the camps as vocational training centers that teach Mandarin, job skills, and Chinese laws to help Uyghurs integrate into mainstream society.
In official statements, Chinese authorities argue that banning certain songs and greetings is part of “de-extremification” efforts that have successfully prevented terrorist attacks since 2017. They point to economic development in Xinjiang, including poverty reduction and infrastructure projects, as evidence that policies benefit Uyghurs. However, critics note that these developments come at the cost of cultural erasure and fundamental human rights.
Latest Developments and Escalation
Recent reports from Xinjiang indicate the crackdown has intensified in 2025, with authorities now requiring real-time monitoring of all public gatherings where music might be performed. In November 2025, a wedding celebration in Kashgar was raided by police after guests were heard singing traditional songs, resulting in the detention of the groom’s father for three days. The incident sent shockwaves through the community, leading many families to hold silent weddings without traditional music.
Technology companies have been forced to remove Uyghur-language music streaming apps from Chinese app stores, and international platforms face pressure to delete content featuring Uyghur artists. The cultural suppression has created a generation of Uyghur youth who have never heard traditional songs in public settings, fundamentally disconnecting them from their heritage and ancestral identity.
