Telling the Stories through Images of Muslim Minorities in the Asia-Pacific
Thursday, October 1, 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Dean's Conference Room
SIU - Carbondale
Unrest in the Uyghur Homeland
Following a spate of political violence, security has been so tight around here that a 25-year-old Muslim jade dealer agreed to talk to a reporter only if they met 20 miles outside this historic Silk Road town in remote northwestern China.
"I wanted to study teachings like the Hadith," said the man who identified himself only as Hussein, referring to a collection of the prophet Muhammad's sayings. "I'm too old now. It makes me sad."
Since the August 4th attack in Kashgar that killed 16 Chinese police officers, officials have intensified security measures all over Xinjiang.
Enhanced security measures on the streets of Kashgar have not stopped young couples from tying the knot.
Jade, a precious stone commonly used by Han Chinese as an amulet, has transformed the Silk Road city of Hotan into a major commercial center in China's restive northwest region of Xinjiang.
Kashgar's claim to fame is its spot on the Silk Road.
Ryan Anson, for the Pulitzer Center
Xinjiang Province, China
I wasn't sure if I could cough up any editorial interest in my Uyghur photographs before coming to Xinjiang. Dozens of journalists had rushed out to Kasghar the day after the Aug.
Before heading out to Xinjiang, a western journalist told me that Uyghurs would hold off on getting married until the security situation improved.
I thought it was only the US that was still paranoid about water on airplanes. Apparently, China is even more afraid of liquid bombs than George Bush.
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Grantee
Ryan Anson is a freelance photojournalist currently based in San Francisco. Although many of his pictures are about social, political and religious issues in the Philippines, Anson has worked in 15...