Rare photos of persecuted Uighur people PHOTO+VIDEO

Tucked away in the north-eastern corner of China live the Uighur people, a Muslim group who live a way of life that's different in almost every way from that of the majority Han Chinese.And life hasn't always been easy for the Uighur. Persecuted by the Communists following a failed bid for independence and accused of terrorism by the rulers of modern China, the Uighurs are hard to access, hidden away from visiting tourists and despised by many of the Han.Now French photographer Eric Lafforgue has shed light on the fascinating world of the Uighurs after travelling to Xinjiang, the sprawling semi-autonomous region that they call home, and revealed how the Uighurs are using traditional garments as a means of silent defiance.There he found people struggling to survive and dealing with endemic discrimination that includes being barred from many jobs and having their homes demolished on spurious grounds.'The government claims it’s demolishing the houses due to seismic issues,' says Lafforgue. But the Uighurs tell a different story. 'One told me that it's not just the homes that are being demolished but their souls,' he continues. Although Muslims, the Chinese government discourages the wearing of Islamic headscarves and women are not allowed into petrol stations and other shops if they are wearing one.'In gas stations, women must remove their veils is they want to be served,' explains Lafforgue. 'The same applies in hospitals, administrations, banks and so on. The Hans see veils as linked with terrorism. But in reality, the majority of Uighur women still wear veils.'The Chinese government also takes a similar approach to traditional Islamic beards, an initiative that sparked riots as recently as June. 'The measure was introduced during the 2008 Ramadan, but wasn’t respected,' adds Lafforgue. 'Nevertheless, government workers cannot have beards or mustaches.'But despite the simmering tension between the Uighur and their Han neighbours, their culture continues to flourish, not least in neighbouring Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.And despite the Chinese government's efforts to prevent it, the Chinese Uighurs cling to their traditions, including the wearing of the Taipak - the world's smallest hat.'In Kyria, I photographed a woman with a Talpak hat, which is a sign that the woman is married,' explains Lafforgue. 'The antiterrorism law forbids them from wearing it, except for funerals. Wearing it is a sign of defiance.'Defiant though they might be, with news yesterday of yet another Chinese government crackdown on 'illegal religious activities', the Uighurs fight for recognition and respect within China looks set to continue.(dailymail.co.uk)ANN.Az