The Egyptian government has detained the Uyghurs, naming them as illegal immigrants, thus forcing many to go into hiding, media reports said.

The Uyghurs say that they now fear that a deportation to China will aggravate the already grim situation.

Days after a Chinese tabloid published an analysis piece on India and its mistreatment towards minorities, stories about China's own deeds have surfaced, exposing the former's own unacknowledged saga which has left the Uyghurs high and dry.

Problems regarding the mistreatment of minorities exist in most nation and neither India nor China serves as an exception.

The only difference however is the lack of acknowledgement from Beijing.

While the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has criticised the unlawful treatment faced by Muslims in India, on more than one occassion, his Chinese counterpart hasn't even showed an iota of sympathy towards the battered Uyghurs.

Beijing, like a well oiled machine, has time and again taken down anyone who has dared question its activities.

Some of its uber 'tolerance' can be comprehended by reviewing a recent action where a Nobel laureate was treated the same way as a designated global terrorist.

Almost nothing about Liu Xiaobo was published following his death, fearing a public outcry.

Experts have stated that a similar thought pushed authorities to bury him in the sea, as a burial site on land would have allowed other 'dissenters' to visit his grave and mourn, something which could have propelled a protest in the future.

The Uyghurs face a similar predicament.

China cannot risk the rise of Islam in the mainland and hence every now and then comes up with 'reforms'.

Ban of Islamic names, ban of the length of beard, ban on burqa are some of these reforms that the Uyghurs are forced to follow.

The minority 'friendly' country, unlike India, also banned the Muslims from keeping a fast during Ramadan.

Who are the Uyghurs?

They are Muslims, a minority in China but has their largest base in the country.

The Uyghurs count themselves culturally and ethnically close to Central Asian nations.

They were an independent group until Communist China took hold of their region in 1949.        

In China, the Uyghurs are mostly found in Xinjiang region.

Over the years, Beijing has accused prominent Uyghur leaders of terrorism and has labelled them as dissenters.

Banner Image: uyghuramerican.org

China flag Image: Wallpaper

Uyghur Image: www.flickr.com/photos/90987386@N05/Wikipedia