China appears to have been destroying traditional Uyghur cemeteries for several years as part of what critics describe as a broader, coordinated campaign to control Islamic beliefs and Muslim minority groups within its borders.
He's not welcome in the country. He can't even phone his mother. She said it was better if he didn't, because every time he did, police would show up at her door. So, when Elkun's father died in 2017, there was no way he could go back to China for the burial. To be closer to his family, he would view his father's grave on Google Earth."I know exactly where his tomb is," Elkun told CNN in his north London home.
Leaked documents reveal China's brutal treatment of Muslims 05:25But leaked documents released by international media in November detailed a co-ordinated program of"ideological" re-education in heavily fortified detention centers, undermining Beijing's narrative.It isn't the first evidence of a coordinated campaign against Uyghur citizens. Multiple former detainees have told CNN they were tortured inside the camps and forced to pledge loyalty to China's Communist Party.
Mesut Ozil vs. China: Arsenal star makes human rights stand 02:51Gathering places Cemeteries are important in every culture, but perhaps more so in Uyghur culture. Cemeteries are central to village life, a place to meet and connect one generation to the last."It's akin for an American to see Arlington cemetery razed and the tomb of the unknown soldier dug up and paved over," said Thum.
Reporter: Uyghurs say camps meant to eradicate culture 03:30'Cultural genocide'Aziz Isa Elkun doesn't know what happened to his father's remains.Contacting his remaining family in Xinjiang, he believes, is too dangerous. For those living in the region, contact with the outside world often brings increased police scrutiny.Amnesty International has reported that those who take calls from abroad are sometimes detained by authorities.
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