Xinjiang: The human rights turbulence persists (1978-2007)

Abstract

This article analyses the human rights condition in Xinjiang. The aim is to analyse the changes in the human rights conditions influenced by internal and external factors. Noticeably, the human rights conditions in Xinjiang have never been static experiencing a rather “turbulent” journey. This article covers a timeframe of four periods. The first part refers to the human rights conditions prior to the 1978 reforms. The second part discusses Deng’s reforms in the 1980s and how they have improved conditions in Xinjiang. The third part elaborates on the human rights conditions in the 1990s. It is essential to note that during this period, human rights and security conditions started to decline again. The final part focuses on the human rights conditions in the aftermath of September 11, 2011. This article demonstrates the “up and down” trends in the human rights conditions in Xinjiang.