# Uyghur Militants in Syria's Civil War

> Uyghur fighters trained in Syria after Chinese repression in Xinjiang.
- Title: Uyghur Militants in Syria's Civil War · Foreign Policy
- Summary: Uyghur fighters trained in Syria after Chinese repression in Xinjiang. Uyghur militants fled Xinjiang's repression in 2009 and trained in Syria's civil war…
- Keywords: uyghur, syria, civil war, turkestan islamic party, xinjiang, chinese repression, militia, idlib, Militants, Syria's, Civil, War
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/10/12/uyghur-xinjiang-china-syria-civil-war-fighters-training
- Author: Emily Feng
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: uyghur, syria, civil war, turkestan islamic party, xinjiang, chinese repression, militia, idlib
## Uyghur unrest in Xinjiang
In July 2009, Uyghur workers at a Guangdong toy factory faced false rumors of violence and rape, sparking a brawl that injured over 120 people, mostly Uyghurs.
## Uyghur protests in Urumqi
Uyghurs gathered in Urumqi demanding an investigation into the deaths, but police dispersed them, sparking days of violence between Han and Uyghur groups.
## Chinese government response
The Chinese government reported 192 deaths, two-thirds Han, with over 1,000 injured, though rights groups questioned the official death toll.
## Uyghur detention and repression
Thousands of Uyghurs were detained by state security forces and disappeared, with regional authorities increasing surveillance and restricting internet access in Xinjiang.
## Choghtal's escape
Choghtal, a 36-year-old Uyghur, fled Xinjiang in 2009 after witnessing violence and the disappearance of his family members, seeking refuge in Turkey.
## Uyghur fighters in Syria
Uyghur fighters arrived in Syria in 2012 to train in the civil war, forming their own militia under the Turkestan Islamic Party.
## Syrian training ground
In northern Syria, Uyghur fighters trained for three months under Syrian and Uyghur militant fighters, learning combat tactics in the middle of active conflict.
## Uyghur community in Idlib
Uyghurs established a community in Idlib with social services for women and children, aiming to prevent fighters from joining extremist groups like ISIS.
## Islamic State threat
By 2014, the Islamic State recruited Uyghurs for years but most rejected their ideology, fearing violence against civilians and fellow Muslims.
## Uyghur-Syrian alliance
Uyghurs allied with Jabhat al-Nusra against the Islamic State, but internal conflicts led to some fighters being labeled infidels by their own families.
## Uyghur decision to join rebels
In 2015, Uyghurs chose to join the rebel side after the Assad regime threatened their base in Jisr al-Shughur, forcing them to abandon Syria.
## Uyghur cemetery in Syria
A cemetery in northern Syria honors Uyghur fighters killed in the civil war, with one fighter saying they feel proud of their sacrifice.
## Uyghur militia in Syria
Uyghur fighters in Syria formed their own militia, aiming to create a nation rather than a caliphate, with no direct conflict with the Syrian government.
## Uyghur fighters' perspective
Uyghur fighters described the Islamic State as too fundamentalist, killing civilians and fellow Muslims, which led to internal conflicts among Uyghur groups.
## Uyghur state-building
Uyghurs in Syria focused on building a state for their people, creating communities with social services to prevent further radicalization.
## Uyghur sacrifice
Uyghur fighters in Syria sacrificed their lives to create a homeland, with one fighter saying they feel proud of their sacrifice.
## Key takeaway

Uyghur militants fled Xinjiang's repression in 2009 and trained in Syria's civil war to build their own state.