China tries to whitewash its genocide by performing a “happy Uyghur” image, organizing Uyghur performers to sing and dance in European squares to mislead global audiences.
In recent days, videos have spread widely on social media showing Uyghur performers singing and dancing in popular public spaces across Europe. Organized by the Chinese government, these street performances have drawn attention and sparked outrage among Uyghurs in the diaspora.
The footage features members of the Xinjiang-based Twelve Muqam Ensemble performing traditional Uyghur songs and dances for passersby. Large crowds of foreign tourists and locals can be seen watching and filming the shows.
According to reports, this propaganda tour—entirely orchestrated by the Chinese government—took place between April 10 and 13, with stops in France and Hungary. The Uyghur performers appeared near the Eiffel Tower in Paris and in Budapest’s Heroes’ Square, casually entertaining public crowds with their routines.
This marks the first time since 2017 that China has sent a Uyghur group abroad for this type of public propaganda activity. The effort is part of China’s broader campaign, branded “Xinjiang Is a Wonderful Place,” aimed at denying the ongoing repression and genocide of Uyghurs.
Following international recognition of China’s crimes as genocide and crimes against humanity by the U.S. and over ten other countries, China has responded by forcing Uyghurs to sing and dance in front of domestic and international audiences, portraying a false image of peace and cultural harmony under Chinese rule.
As part of this same campaign, a Uyghur group was made to perform similar shows in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates last June. A few years ago, the Chinese embassy in Washington also hosted a virtual event under the same slogan, featuring former Xinjiang governor Shohrat Zakir.
Uyghurs in exile have harshly criticized the “Xinjiang Is a Wonderful Place” narrative. Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of the World Uyghur Congress and founder of Campaign for Uyghurs, stated that China’s goal is not to celebrate Uyghur culture, but to exploit it for propaganda purposes. “It’s the height of hypocrisy for China to showcase Uyghur culture abroad while systematically destroying it at home,” she said. “This is the same regime that forces Uyghurs to dance, criminalizes our religious practices, demolishes our mosques, restricts our language, and imprisons our artists. Europe must not be complicit in China’s efforts to rewrite reality.”
While China’s propaganda has gained some traction in parts of the Arab and Muslim world, it has met with resistance in the West. Nonetheless, China continues to push its narrative. For example, in December 2023, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson shared videos of a Chinese couple dressed in Uyghur-style clothing walking through Paris, referring to their outfits as part of “Chinese Xinjiang fashion culture.”
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