Uyghur

Quick Facts

  • Population 5,000
  • Concentrated Areas: Fairfax County
  • Primary Branch of Islam: Sunni (but with some Sufi influences)
  • Primary Country of Origin: China (Xinjiang Autonomous Region)
  • Primary Language: Uyghur

Overview

Originally from Xinjiang, a region in northwest China, the Uyghur people trace their Turkic ethnic roots back to the 9th century when they migrated to their homeland. For centuries, they thrived along the Silk Road and developed a strong ethnic identity rooted in their Islamic heritage.  However, the Chinese Cultural revolution of the 1950s shattered their peaceful existence and led to relentless persecution and oppression that continues today.  The Communist government of China sees devotion to religion or other cultural identities as a threat, leading to systematic efforts to suppress and eliminate the Uyghur identity.  Some of their methods include detention, forced labor, indoctrination, and even forced sterilization. These efforts have come in varying waves of intensity, with the most recent being in the 2010s.  

Some Uyghurs have managed to escape to surrounding countries, while others have sought refuge in places like the United States where the Washington DC area is home to the largest concentration of Uyghurs in the nation.  Yet even here, the Uyghurs are burdened for family and friends left behind and concern for the ongoing plight of their people in China.  There is a struggle to maintain their cultural identity here, pushing some deeper into Islam.  While there are a few people in the area who are intentionally engaging local Uyghurs with the Gospel, there is still a need for more laborers.  Pray that the Lord would raise up more laborers in the area.

Prayer Points

  • Pray for Uyghur immigrants to find comfort and peace in Jesus, embracing Him as their Prince of Peace and receiving the Holy Spirit as their Comforter and Guide.
  • Pray that the Lord would raise up Uyghur believers with a passion for sharing the Gospel among their own people, that they may boldly proclaim the message of hope and salvation.
  • Pray for Uyghur individuals striving to preserve their ethnic identity in a new environment. Ask that they discover true freedom through the Gospel, turning away from false teachings of Islam that have ensnared their community for centuries, and instead, find liberation in the truth of Christ who created them.

Prayer Video

Follow the link below to PrayerCast’s page on the Uyghur people for a prayer video and more information about the Uyghurs. As you watch the prayer video, pray that God will reveal himself to the Uyghurs living in the DC area.

Additional Links

Learn more about Uyghurs in North America and find links to additional Gospel resources at UPGNorthAmerica.com