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Residents in Xinjiang are being cautioned that even listening to the “wrong” songs could lead to detention — or potentially harsher consequences.
A new investigation by the Associated Press reveals that authorities in the region are targeting Uyghur-language music of all types, including traditional folk songs, modern rap, and tracks created by Uyghur artists abroad.
The policy surfaced after a leaked audio recording from a public meeting in Kashgar in October 2024 became available.
During the meeting, police and local officials instructed attendees that downloading, circulating, or simply keeping certain Uyghur songs on their phones could trigger punishment.
Authorities categorized banned songs as those with religious themes, those seen as “misrepresenting” Uyghur history, or any music interpreted as encouraging separatist ideas or dissatisfaction with the government. Experts noted that in reality, virtually any Uyghur song could be labeled problematic under these broad definitions.
Officials played an audio announcement listing prohibited music and warned that violations would be met with “severe punishment,” though no details were offered on specific penalties.
Former residents of Xinjiang reported that relatives and acquaintances had been detained merely for listening to or sharing Uyghur songs. Others said police examined mobile phones during interrogations specifically to search for banned audio files.
AP also reviewed court records documenting a serious case: Uyghur music producer Yashar Xiaohelaiti was handed a three-year prison sentence last year after being accused of uploading dozens of “sensitive” tracks to his personal cloud storage.
This renewed pressure on cultural expression comes despite China’s claims that it shut down large-scale detention centers in Xinjiang. Rights organizations estimate that between 2017 and 2019, more than one million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities were held in these facilities.
