Uyghur Muslims

The Uyghurs have traditionally inhabited a series of oases scattered across the Taklamakan Desert within the Tarim Basin. These oases have historically existed as independent states or were controlled by many civilizations including China, the Mongols, the Tibetans and various Turkic polities. The Uyghurs gradually started to become Islamized in the 10th century, and most Uyghurs identified as Muslims by the 16th century. Islam has since played an important role in Uyghur culture and identity. Uyghur Muslim are a Turkic ethnic group originating from and culturally affiliated with the general region of Central and East Asia, their closest linguistic cousins are the Uzbeks. The Uyghurs are recognized by the Chinese government as a regional minority and the titular people of Xinjiang.^[1]