hotan

name

1. A prefecture of the Xinjiang autonomous region, China.

   “Today in Hotan Prefecture, including Pishan, Moyu, Lop, Qira, Yutian and Minfeng counties–places under the jurisdiction of ancient Khotan State which once dominated the southern route of the Silk Road–818 cobbled canals with a combined length of 1,500 kilometres have been built. Thus, melted snow from the Kunlun Mountains irrigates the prefecture's 200,000 hectacres of farmland.”

   “Hotan is located in southern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It is an oasis town in the Tarim Basin, north of the Kunlun Mountains and south of the Taklamakan Desert. Hotan Prefecture is a multinational area: 96 percent Uyghur and 3 percent Han.”

   “It is not uncommon to find Uyghurs, particularly from Hotan and Kashgar in southern Xinjiang, – perceived by the authorities as anti-government hotspots – reporting that half or more of their immediate family members are in a mix of political education camps, pre-trial detention, and prison. For example, an interviewee said her husband, his 4 brothers, and their 12 nephews – that is, all the men in the family – have been detained in political education camps since 2017.”

   “ByteDance has also been working with Xinjiang authorities under a program called “Xinjiang Aid,” whereby Chinese companies open subsidiaries or factories in Xinjiang and employ locals who have been detained in the camps. Its operations are centered on Hotan, an area of Xinjiang considered backward by the Communist Party and where the repression has been among the most severe.”

2. A county-level city of Hotan prefecture, Xinjiang autonomous region, China.

   “Two Chinese men view an exhibit on the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, Hotan, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, 2003.”

   “Abla Ahat, police chief of Purchaqchi township, told RFA that five of the suspects came from Nawagh township in Hotan city and were met by the other two men from Manglay township at the Sherbet restaurant.”

3. A county of Hotan prefecture, Xinjiang autonomous region, China.

   “Recent excavations at the Mälikä Awat site in Hotan County revealed a forty-five-kilogram cache of Western Han "five-zhu" coins buried in the sand in a large ochre-red pottery crock, standing over half a meter tall and measuring fifty-six centimeters in circumference.”

   “The authorities’ attempt to enforce absolute secrecy is confirmed by another document dated November 2018, this one from a local government file in Hotan County.”