Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) has condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) renaming of Uyghur villages in East Turkistan, describing it as part of a broader effort to erase Uyghur identity, culture, and history. This condemnation comes amid ongoing reports of genocide against the Uyghur population.

A joint research study by Human Rights Watch and Norway-based organization Uyghur Hjelp identified approximately 630 villages in East Turkistan where names have been changed to reflect CCP ideology. According to the report, most of these changes occurred between 2017 and 2019, coinciding with the CCP's reported crimes against humanity, including arbitrary detention and imprisonment of millions of Uyghurs.

The study highlighted that village names falling into categories related to religion, history, and culture were targeted for change. For example, “Aq Meschit village,” meaning ‘White Mosque’ in the Uyghur language, was renamed “Unity Village.” Similarly, “Dutar village,” named after a traditional Uyghur musical instrument, was renamed “Red Flag Village.”

Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of CFU, stated: "The CCP’s renaming of Uyghur villages is a blatant attempt to erase the Uyghur identity. The names which have now been changed to empty CCP slogans once reflected our long history and rich culture and have been in our homeland for hundreds of years. Although the CCP appears to celebrate Uyghur culture by showcasing elements like our music and dance, these displays are nothing but hollow propaganda masking the regime’s ongoing and systematic suppression of cultural and religious expression. We strongly condemn these actions and urge the international community to address its ongoing Uyghur genocide."

CFU has called upon international entities, governments, corporations, and NGOs to recognize the continued atrocities in East Turkistan. They urge these bodies to take action to ensure that the CCP is held accountable for its crimes and that Uyghur culture is preserved.