The Chinese government’s systematic restrictions on Uyghurs’ freedom of movement continue to violate fundamental human rights and international legal protections. Despite minor changes in travel policies, Uyghurs attempting to leave China still face extreme scrutiny, arbitrary denials, and severe repercussions for having foreign ties. These restrictions highlight the Chinese government’s broader efforts to control and suppress Uyghur communities, both within China and abroad.
For years, Chinese authorities have made it nearly impossible for Uyghurs in Xinjiang to obtain passports or travel abroad freely. While some Uyghurs have been granted passports, their ability to use them is tightly controlled. Those seeking to leave must undergo extensive background checks, justify their travel purpose, and, in many cases, provide guarantees that their return is assured. Authorities have arbitrarily revoked passports and denied new applications, citing vague threats to national security.
Even when Uyghurs are permitted to travel, they are closely monitored. They must refrain from any political discussions, avoid contact with activists or individuals critical of the Chinese government, and adhere strictly to travel timelines. Failure to comply can result in severe consequences, including family members in Xinjiang facing harassment, detention, or worse.
To exert control over Uyghurs abroad, Chinese authorities have engaged in transnational repression, using coercion and intimidation tactics to silence dissenting voices. Uyghurs who have relatives overseas have been warned against communicating with them, and some have been detained simply for having connections to individuals or organizations outside of China.
Additionally, Uyghurs who have managed to travel abroad often find themselves in precarious situations. Some are required to report to Chinese officials regularly, while others fear repercussions against their family members in Xinjiang if they engage in advocacy or activism. Chinese diplomatic missions have also pressured Uyghurs abroad to participate in state-controlled tours to Xinjiang, presenting a misleading narrative that conditions in the region are normal.
Many Uyghurs living abroad have been unable to see their families for years due to these restrictions. Even those who hold foreign passports face lengthy visa processes and security screenings before being allowed entry into China.
Uyghurs who do manage to visit Xinjiang often report extensive surveillance, interrogations, and limitations on their movement. Some have been forced to stay in hotels rather than with their families and were monitored closely by local officials. These conditions demonstrate that even permitted travel is heavily restricted and intended to maintain state control over the Uyghur population.
Moreover, the Chinese government has placed additional restrictions on specific destinations. Uyghurs are often barred from traveling to Muslim-majority countries like Turkey, Malaysia, and Egypt, where they might find solidarity with the Uyghur diaspora. Instead, they are permitted to visit only a limited number of countries, often under the condition of strict surveillance and reporting requirements. Even those who obtain travel permissions must comply with regulations that severely limit their interactions abroad, ensuring their experiences remain controlled and devoid of any opportunity to discuss repression or persecution.
A particularly oppressive policy imposed by the Chinese authorities is that usually only one person per family is allowed to travel abroad at a time. This tactic effectively holds the remaining family members as hostages to ensure the return of the traveller. If the individual fails to return within the designated period, their family members left behind in Xinjiang are at risk of severe punishments, including interrogation, detention, or loss of assets. This policy serves as a coercive measure to control Uyghurs even beyond China’s borders.
Under international human rights law, individuals have the fundamental right to leave their country. The Chinese government’s travel restrictions on Uyghurs are arbitrary and discriminatory, violating multiple international treaties, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Governments worldwide must take a firm stance against China’s policies of repression and control.
The Chinese government’s restrictions on Uyghurs’ freedom of movement are part of a broader campaign to suppress and control the Uyghur population. Through systematic passport confiscations, surveillance, and coercion, authorities have created a system where Uyghurs are trapped, unable to travel or communicate freely with their loved ones. These practices must be condemned, and urgent international action is needed to protect Uyghurs from further oppression.
As Rightsdefenders Initiative (RDI), we strongly oppose the Chinese government’s ongoing violations of Uyghurs’ rights to freedom of movement. The ability to travel, reunite with loved ones, and live without fear of state retaliation is not a privilege—it is a fundamental human right. We call upon international organizations, human rights advocates, and governments worldwide to take urgent and concrete actions against these oppressive policies. Silence and inaction only serve to enable further repression. The world must stand in solidarity with the Uyghur people and demand an end to these injustices.
References:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/02/03/china-travel-uyghurs-heavily-restricted
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/against-their-will-the-situation-in-xinjiang
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-22278037
https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/02/china-imposes-strict-travel-restrictions-on-uyghur-population
