AI Generated Images were used to create video: Audio recording is from Indoctrination session held in Kashgar, in East Turkistan’s South - Full Transcript at end of article
0:00
-1:25
Audio snippet from Ablajan Awut Ayup’s “Ana-yurt” Motherland.
Lyrics: “Qeshqer, Xoten, Yarkent, Turpan, Ürümchi, Ghulja, Atush, Qumul, Aqsu, Altay, Korla ve Kuchar, Ana yurtum sen bu Dünyadaki eng güzel makan, Goya patmas Quyashtek cheksiz mihirge tolghan, Elmisaqtin bowam qildi gülistan harmay, Yene menggü davam qilar üzülüp qalmay…”
English Translation: Kashgar, Hoten, Yarkand, Turpan, Urumchi, Ghulja, Atush, Qumul, Aqsu, Altay, Korla and Kuchar (Names of 12 cities in East Turkistan), My motherland you are the World’s most beautiful place, filled with the sun in infinite kindness, my forefathers made this place into a beautiful garden without tiring, I hope it continues without ending…”
China has banned the song above and has labelled it as “problematic” under category 1; Problematic songs that twist Uyghur history and incite ethnic hatred and separatism.
At first glance, some might assume that if the Chinese government bans music, it would be limited to songs that clearly call for violence or explicitly promote terrorism, the same justification Beijing repeats in its official messaging. That assumption collapses once the list of banned Uyghur songs is examined. Many of the banned songs are not new, underground, or fringe works. They have been sung for generations, performed on state television, approved by official censors, and woven into everyday Uyghur life. They speak about family and morality, longing and loss, homeland and language, faith and conscience. The question is not why “problematic” songs are banned, but why ordinary cultural expression has suddenly been recast as a security threat. What changed was not the music, but the state’s tolerance for any Uyghur expression that preserves memory, identity, or moral reference points outside Party control.
Kashgar Times has obtained and translated an audio recording provided by Abduweli Ayup, founder of the Norway-based nonprofit Uyghur Hjelp. According to Ayup, the recording is recent and documents an indoctrination session held for Uyghur workers in Kashgar (exact date and location have been omitted for safety reasons). The event was led by government officials and centered on a Chinese Communist Party propaganda video explaining why hundreds of Uyghur songs are now classified as illegal.
The recording offers a rare, detailed look at how cultural expression, particularly music, is framed as a threat to state security. Officials instruct attendees to write down the names of banned songs, stressing that this is not an “exhibition” but a warning. What follows is a systematic presentation of seven categories of so-called problematic songs, paired with dozens of examples and explicit instructions to delete, avoid, and report them.
At the core of the propaganda video is a familiar argument. Officials claim that ideology is the front line of national security and that destabilizing a society begins by “messing up people’s ideology.” Songs, especially those shared online, are portrayed as tools used by “Western enemy powers” and the “three evils” of separatism, extremism, and terrorism. Uyghur cultural and religious expression is repeatedly linked to Pan-Islamism and Pan-Turkism, which the video describes as existential threats to China.
Seven Categories of Banned “Problematic Songs”
The first category targets songs accused of “twisting Uyghur history,” promoting separatism, or inciting ethnic hatred. The list is extensive and includes songs about homeland, language, parents, friendship, exile, and identity. Titles such as Uyghurum (My Uyghur), Ana-tilim (My Mother Tongue), Yurtum [Ana Yurt] (My Homeland), and Ata-anam Qayerde? (Where Are My Parents?) are all cited (See all songs referenced in video transcript at the end of the article). Several well-known singers appear repeatedly, including Ablajan Awut Ayup, currently serving an 11-year prison sentence, Memetjan Abduqadir, according to Xinjiang Victims Database who previously served seven years (current status unknown), and Abdurehim Heyit, who was detained and disappeared into the detention system before briefly reappearing in a forced video.
The second category expands the scope further. Songs are accused of denying that life in Chinese occupied East Turkistan is improving under CCP rule, showing dissatisfaction with the party or army, or resenting government policies. These songs are described as promoting terrorism and extremism, even when their titles suggest themes of hardship, farewell, longing, or social struggle. The language used collapses dissent, grief, and criticism into a single security threat.
The third, fourth, and fifth categories focus heavily on religion. Songs that mention God, Ramadan, halal and haram, or basic Islamic concepts are said to “force people to believe in religion,” detach people from worldly life, or sabotage the government’s stated freedom of religion policy. Even lullabies, love songs, and folk melodies are criticized for containing religious references or for encouraging reflection rather than state-approved optimism. Officials describe such songs as spreading negativity or complaints about reality.
The sixth category targets songs that allegedly damage the reputation of the party or government officials. Satirical or critical songs about local authorities are framed as attacks on social stability. The seventh category labels certain songs as morally low, accusing them of promoting promiscuity or distorting reality. Together, the seven categories leave little room for Uyghur music that reflects lived experience, belief, or identity outside official narratives.
Retroactive Censorship
One striking detail is that most of the songs listed were previously approved by Chinese censorship bodies. They were published, recorded, broadcast on television, and performed on public stages with government authorization. Their retroactive criminalization underscores how legality in Chinese occupied East Turkistan is fluid and contingent, shifting with political priorities rather than clear law.
Punishment
The recording goes on to outline consequences. Officials present case studies of young Uyghur men detained for ten days under China’s Anti-Terrorism Law for sharing songs on platforms like Kuaishou, WeChat, and Douyin. In each case, the “crime” involved using a banned song as background music for a personal photo or video. The message is unambiguous: listening to, storing, or sharing music can result in detention.
The final section instructs workers on prevention. They are told to download music only from official apps, to treat any unsearchable song as suspicious, and to report questionable content to police or by calling emergency numbers. Those unsure are advised to seek guidance directly from law enforcement. The language repeatedly urges people not to “try their luck.”
At the end of the session, a government official attempts to minimize the scope of the ban, stating that out of thousands of songs, only around 120 are prohibited. Yet the transcript itself lists far more titles, and the categories are broad enough to encompass much of Uyghur musical tradition.
It is clear that this was not an isolated lecture or a local experiment. The language used by officials, the standardized categories of “problematic songs,” the legal citations, and the scripted propaganda video all point to a coordinated campaign. Similar indoctrination sessions have likely been held across East Turkistan, targeting workers, students, and ordinary residents under the guise of legal education. The reference to tens of thousands of registered smartphones, combined with detailed instructions on reporting neighbors and contacting police, suggests a region-wide effort to turn daily cultural habits into grounds for surveillance and punishment. This presentation was not simply about music. It was about teaching Uyghurs that even listening, remembering, or sharing their own songs can be treated as a crime.
This recording matters because it documents, in the government’s own words, how Uyghur culture is being redefined as danger. Songs about language, faith, morals, family, memory, and loss are not treated as art but as evidence. In today’s East Turkistan, music is no longer just something to be heard. It is something that can be policed, punished, and used to measure loyalty.
In Summary the 7 Categories are:
1. Problematic songs that twist Uyghurs’ history and incite ethnic hatred and separatism.
2. Problematic songs that incite terrorism, extremism and smear the Chinese Communist Party.
3. Problematic songs that force people to believe in a religion (Islam).
4. Problematic songs that smear people’s happy lives and encourage resentment towards the government.
5. Problematic songs that are full of religious thoughts, ignoring reality or modernity.
6. Problematic songs that promote rumors about the party and its leadership.
7. Problematic songs that advocate filth and dirty thoughts and promiscuous behavior.
(Note: Some of the songs mentioned in the transcript are hyperlinked to the song’s youtube videos.)
Full video transcript translated by Kashgar Times
Video transcript begins:
Government Official: Since we are playing this for you, for some time you have been asking which songs, which songs, well these are the songs, the banned songs. We are not putting on an exhibition, write all this down since we are telling you.
Transcript of Propaganda video:
Stay away from problematic songs, counter against this influence and know the value of beautiful life. The communication network is on the front line of ideology, history and reality have proven this to us time and time again that to destabilize a society and overthrow thegovernment starts from the penetration of ideology and messing up people’s ideology, if the ideological defence is broken down it’s hard to maintain other defences. The communication network is developing lightning fast, we use smart phones to capture our beloved life and send it anywhere in the world with one button.
Without leaving the house we can enjoy the beauty of the world. The internet and smart phones are slowly changing us and leading to social manufacturing and changing and developing our lives. Western enemy powers and the three evils from inside and outside of our borders use every means possible to try to destroy China especially through Pan-Islamism, Pan-Turkism, terrorism, extremism, religious extremism, etc. Ideologically unsuitable content and songs are one of the main factors that our social stability is slowly being affected.
Since 2022, strong leadership from the Yengisar province and the local government and Yengisar police departments strongly focused on people centred alternative ideology, and co-planning counteracting to separatists on an ideological field, concerned for every illegal activities online, we promoted the law and rule to the people, even though deeply increased awareness on the dangers of problematic songs, some people on the internet still listen, story, download and share problematic songs that incite separatism and national hatred, even terrorism and extremism to trigger threats to the social instability to affect society normal production, deeply disturb the social order order, threats to national security, social stability, national unification, lives of citizens and property, causing severe danger.
To raise awareness about the law, as there are 149,000 registered smart phone devices in our province, now we will explain the meanings and dangers of these problematic songs. We hope people recognize which songs are problematic and have them delete problematic songs. Prohibit yourself from downloading, listening, and sharing problematic songs. Actively report problematic songs to authorities, counter the penetration from abroad and extreme forces to protect our happy and peaceful lives together. First, which songs are problematic?
1. Problematic songs and music that twist Uyghur history, promote separatism and inciting ethnic hatred:
For example, “Kok Bore” Blue Wolf, “Iz” Footsteps [Singer: Abliz Shakir], “Uyghurum” My Uyghur [Singer: Abdurehim Heyit], “Alim Bildi” The Scholar knows [Alim Öldi - The Scholar Dies] , “Wijdan Soriqi” Questioning the conscience [Singer: Abdurehim Heyit], “Yurtum” [Ana-Yurt] My Homeland [Singer: Ablajan Awut Ayup], “Aldida” In front [Singer: Abdurehim Heyit], “Anayurt Marshi” Homeland Anthem [Hasan Sağındık (Turkish song)], “Bir din bir Türkiye” Only Turkiye, “Ötelemsen Men Bilen?” Can you live with me? [Singer: Hazreteli Muhammad], “Yitelmidim Atamgha” I have not been able to walk in my father’s footsteps [Singer: Abdullah Abdurehim], “Seghindingmu?” Do you miss me? [Singer: Saniyam Ismail], “Uyghur Digen Mushundaq” Uyghurs are like this [Singer: Mominjan Ablikim], “Wetenimni Ghajimanglar” Don’t chew my homeland, “Anayurt” Homeland, “Chigra” Border, “Ata-anam Qayerde?” Where are my parents?, “Ana-tilim” My mother-tongue [Singer: Husenjan, “Temburning Sari” The voice of the Tambur [Qangha Boyalghan Nahun/Nahul - Blood-drenched pick/plectrum] , “Qara” Dark, “Türkistangha Beghishlaymen” I dedicate to Turkistan, “Osmaning Wesiyeti” The will of Osman, “ikki pede” Two rhythm, “Ziyaret Qilghili Keldim” I Came to visit [Singer: Hoshur Qari], “Palchigha ishenmenglar”, Don’t believe in fortune tellers, “Qederdindan Atam” My dear father, “Dostluq” Friendship, “Söyümluk Anam” My beloved mother, “Arqanggha Qayt” Go back, “Sheherdiki Musapir” The exile in the city, “Yaxshimu siz?” How are you?, “Besh pede” Five rhythm, “Turmush digen Mushundaq” Life is like this, “Balam Anglang” Listen my child, “Sumbul Chashliq Qiz” Long-haired girl, “Atush”, “Ili Naxshisi” Song of Ili, “Balilarni Yetim Qilmanglar” Don’t make the children orphans, “Mening Gülüm” My flower, “Ketti” Gone, “Nazihan”, “Sanamjan”, “Dostum” My Friend, “Toyluq” Dowry, “Sen Mendek Bulalamsen?” Can you be like me? etc…. These songs deny the governance under the CCP that every ethnic group’s livelihood in Xinjiang is getting better day by day and show dissatisfaction to the army and party, create fake evidence, attack our country and party, incite separatism, and cause great damage to the society.
2. Problematic songs that promote terrorism and extremism, slander against the party’s governance of Xinjiang. For example: “Atalar” Forefathers [Singer: Abdurehim Heyit], “Qaytalmaymen” [Yanarim Yok] I cannot go back [Singers: Amir Kilic and Hayrunnisa Yengilmes], “Tes emes” Not difficult [Singer: Nashtarr], “Aldida” In front [Singer: Hayrunnisa Yengilmes], “Men Ölmeymen” I will not die [Singer: Kuresh Kusen] “Chanaymen” I will cut you up, “Sergerdan” Stranded, “U Dedi Yaq Yaq” [Uchurashqanda] When we meet [Singer: Abdurehim Heyit], “Yanarim Yoq” I cannot go back [Singers: Amir Kilic and Hayrunisa Yengilmes], “Algha” Move forward, “Burch” Duty, “Heyir Hosh” Goodbye, “Tur Orningdin” Get up, “Dihqan” Farmer, “Turmushimizda peyda bolghan hadisiler” Things that happen in our lives, “Idare qilish” To govern, “Meni Qutquzunglar” Save me, “Ghunchilar” Children, “Küt Meni” Wait for me, “Salam Anijan” Salam Mother, etc….. these songs have Jihadi ideology, incite violence and promote separatism and call to build a world with the sword, promoting religious extremism in order to incite bloody encounters that creates a negative impact on the security of the whole society.
3. Problematic Songs that promote religious ideology and force people to believe in a religion, for example: “Men Hayat” I am alive [Singer: Memetjan Abduqadir], “Assalamu alaykum” Peace be upon you [Singer: Memetjan Abduqadir], “Jarapazan” [Singer: Turan Ethno-Folk Ensemble], “Sual Soraq” Questioning [Memetjan Abduqadir], “Kelgin Dostum” Come my friend [Uyghur Mujahideen], “Ramazan Naxshisi” Ramazan Song, “Allah Biridu” God will give [Abdizhappar Alkozha], “Payisha Qizning Muhabetti” The love of a prostitute, “Men Bilen” [“Ötelemsen Men Bilen?”] Can you live with me? [Singer: Hazreteli Muhammad], “Wijdansiz Bala” Boy without conscience [Singer: Shireli Abdureshid], “Dostum” My Friend, “Erkek” Man [Singer: Mahmut Suleyman], “Söymek Qiyin” Difficult to love, “Qedirlik Malay” Dear maid, “Uluq Yol” Holy road, “Ili Boyliri” Ili shores, “Din Naxshisi” Religion song, “Oylap oynanglar” [Think before playing], etc….. Through religious extremism, the above songs force people to believe in a religion, it sabotages the government’s freedom of religion policy.
4. Problematic songs that slander the people’s happy lives and incite negativity against the party and the government. For example: “Mining Altay’im” My Altay [Kazak Song]’, “Pak Yasha” Live the right way {Singer: Abdilim Abdurehim], “Rast Sozlesh” Tell the truth, “Uyghur Oghli” Son of Uyghur, “Heqiqetge Qaytish” Come back to the truth, “Shamal” Wind, “Haraq Ichish” Drink alcohol, Chatma Naxsha - “Sharap Ichgen Uyghur Qizi” The Uyghur girl who drank wine, “Bügün Axsham” Tonight, etc……
These songs attack our region’s anti-terror policy, social stability and trigger people’s cultural identity to slander our government’s social stability policy efforts.
5. Problematic songs which contain very religious themes that send a negative message which negatively detaches people from their worldly lives, for example: “Shükri” Thank God [Memetjan Abduqadir], “Erkek” Man, “Üch Pede” Three Rhythm, “Bir Jup Koz” A pair of eyes, “Islam Digen Nime?” What is Islam?, “Malaysiya Gha Medhiye” Praise for Malaysia, “Oynayli Dostlar” Let’s dance friends, “Allay” Lullaby, “Qara-Koz Qizchaq Lazam iken” Dark-eyed girl is needed, “Huda Meni Saqla” God protect me, “Yantaq Kuyi” [Yantaq]Bush song [Singer: Abdurehim Heyit], “Mahtanma” Don’t praise yourself, “Körgen Guwah” Witness, “Seghinip Keldim” I came because I missed you, “Reyhan Gul”, “Aq Leyli”, “Hemige Qadir Büyük Zat” The All-knowing being, “Wetende Turalemsen?” Can you keep your promise?, “Muhimliqingni Emdi Bildim Dada” Now I know your importance, dad, “Qizchaq Aldinip Qalmang” Girl don’t fall into the trap, “Pak Muhabbet” Pure love, “Heyrigul”, “Yarim Kelmidi” My love did not come, “Gülzarliq” Garden, “Yoldin Chiqma Dostum” Don’t fall off the right path my friend, “Ah Adem” Oh Mankind, “Naxshi Kichilikteki Tebrik Sözi” Congratulations given during night concert, etc….. The melodies of these songs are bad, these songs are full of complaints about reality. For example they contain terms like halal and haram in the lyrics so it has remnants of pan-islamic ideology.
6. Problematic songs that are fake in content to slander the party’s and government’s reputation and damage the relationship between the people and officials and attack government policies, for example: “Bashliq Kilidu” The head official is coming, “Erkek” Man, “Heyr Hosh” Goodbye, “Qum Barhanlardiki Almas” The diamond in the desert, “Bashliqlar” Head officials, “Tughmas Toho” The Chicken that doesn’t lay eggs [Singer: Omerjan Alim], “Beziler” Some people [Singer: Omerjan Alim], etc… these types of songs slander the reputation of local government officials, trigger people’s cultural identity to damage our government’s social stability policy efforts, slanders the reputation of the party and government which brings about a negative effect on society.
7. Problematic songs which are morally low, songs that have negative effects on society, for example: “Sheher Baziri” City Bazar, these songs promote promiscuity and low morals and have a negative effect on social life. These songs contain lyrics that twist reality and facts and have a negative effect on society.
Second, The consequences and damage of downloading, listening, storing and sharing problematic songs. In recent years, in our county many cases of problematic songs that promote extremism, these cases have been heavily prosecuted by our law enforcement. First case example: “A X” Sharing extremist materials case - the felon “A X” Male, 22 years old, a resident of Yengisar County xx village bazaar, on September 13, 2022 the felon “A X” on his Black Oppo A 11 phone, the song which promotes extremism called “U Dedi Yaq Yaq” [Uchurashqanda] When we meet [Singer: Abdurehim Heyit] was used as background music, he edited over his own photo to the song and shared it on Kuaishou, according to the anti-terrorism law of the People’s Republic of China Act 80 Section 2, The act of “A X” is considered a crime for sharing extremist material, the Police Department arrested “A X” for his crime and was detained for 10 days. Second case: “Mu X” Sharing extremist materials case, Felon “Mu X” , male, 21 years old, a resident of Yengisar County xx village bazaar, on November 17, 2022, at 23:16, Felon “Mu X” used his blue Oppo Remo 4 phone, shared songs that promotes extremism and incite ethnic hatred such “Otelemsen Men Bilen” and “Vijdansiz Bala” Boy without conscience [Singer: Shireli Abdureshid] on his WeChat friend zone, The act of “Mu X” is considered a crime for spreading religious extremist materials. According to anti-terrorism law of the People’s Republic of China Act 80 Section 2, the police department arrested the Felon “Mu X” and detained him for 10 days. Third case: “Ro X” Sharing extremist materials case, Felon “Ro X” male, 32 years old, a resident of Yengisar County xx village bazaar, on November 22, 2022, used his blue Royal Honor 9X phone and used the problematic song that promotes religious extremism called “Men Hayat” I am alive [Singer: Memetjan Abduqadir] created a video, used the song as background music, edited it over his own photo and shared it on his Douyin account. The act of “Ro X” is considered a crime for spreading religious extremist materials. According to anti-terrorism law of the People’s Republic of China Act 80 Section 2, the police department arrested the Felon “Ro X” and detained him for 10 days.
Third, how to avoid and prevent problematic songs, first only download music using official ways. Only download music from official music apps. When you see a song shared on other’s friends zone, don’t share music without knowing it’s meaning, use official apps to see if the song is searchable, if it’s not searchable then the song might be problematic, these types of songs must not be listened to, stored or shared.
Second, you must improve your ability to recognize problematic songs, using the seven categories mentioned before, avoid such music by not downloading, storing, or sharing. Actively report suspicious songs in order to protect our harmonious and happy life, we need to do our part. Third, actively seek help from the police, if you are not sure whether a song is suspicious, call 110 or go to the police department to seek advice. To recognize problematic songs, don’t listen to, store, or share problematic songs. The police department warns you that downloading, listening, storing and sharing problematic songs is against the law and is even considered a crime, and law enforcement will strike you with the law. We urge the minority of you to not try your luck and erase the songs immediately, we urge citizens to strictly abide by the protocol. You should deeply understand not to share content with negative energy, stand together against online penetration. We hope to see a healthy, good, social online environment together.
End of Propaganda Video
Government official: We have many songs, we have a few thousand songs, the government is only banning 120 odd songs…
Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.
