China - June 2024

According to Human Rights Watch, Chinese authorities have systematically been renaming villages in Xinjiang, removing names with Uyghur and Islamic cultural meanings in favour of those reflecting Communist Party ideology. A June report identified 630 such changes from 2009 to 2023. Human rights experts have raised concerns that the move is part of the Chinese government's broader efforts to erase the cultural and religious expression of Uyghurs. The Chinese government has, over the past few years, denied allegations of abuse and repression in the region.

Sources: Nikkei Asia, Human Rights Watch, The Guardian, International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2), Al Jazeera