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Islamic States in China

Last modified: 2000-01-21 by phil nelson
Keywords: islam | china | uighuristan | turkestan | xinjiang |
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Uighuristan (Islamic Republic of East Turkestan)

In 1933 (when the Chinese central government had de facto ceased to exist) there was a short-lived state country in present day Xinjiang with names "Republic of Uighuristan" or "Islamic Republic of East Turkestan" (both names were used although the state has existed for less than one year). This state has used a star & crescent flag of triangular shape.
Harald Mueller, 28 August 1997

[Flag of Uighuristan] by Mark Sensen

This flag uses the shahada out of the Saudi flag. An alternative rendering is shown below.
Uighuristan existed for less than a year between 1932 and 1933. It issued coins with nationalsymbols on them: a triangular flag with a crescent and star, IIRC the crescent faces the hoist. On some of the coins the flag has a flamed border. Of course, no colors areprovided.
Harald Mueller 1996-JUL-1

[Flag of Uighuristan] by Mark sensen
This rendering of the flag uses a shahada resembling that in the old flag of the Yemeni Imam. It is less artistic than the Saudi one.


[Flag of Uighuristan] by Harald Mueller

[Flag of Xinjiang] by Mark Sensen

The flag of the 'Republic of Uighuristan' was also said to be like the Turkish flag, with a blue background instead of red. Now, I have checked out flag depictions on coins from this "state", and they look different. The flag is triangular (like a diagonal cut of a normal oblong flag), and the crescent looks towards the hoist. Sometimes there are a kind of flames attached to the border.
Harald Mueller


I have seen two flags attributed to the Uighurs or East Turkestan, but I don't know the official status of either. One is the same as the Turkish flag but dark blue instead of red. The otheris white with a dark blue crescent and star in the upper half, centred horizontally. Bothcrescent and star point toward the upper hoist. In the lower half is the Islamic Shahadah inArabic script (the same as on the Saudi Arabian flag).
David Lewellen 21 January 1996


From the Eastern Turkestan Information Center web site (http://www.uygur.com/english.htm), it is clear that this flag is used by Uygur nationalists.

Some historical facts from "Courrier International", 440, 08 April 1999: "In 1884, Turkestan was incorporated to Mandchu Empire as Xinjiang ("New border"). Between 1884 and 1949, 42 armed revolts occurred against the military governors. Independentists mention a short-lived Islamic Republic of Eastern Turkestan established in the south in 1933, and a second Republic of Eastern Turkestan in 1944. Seized in 1949 by the Chinese troops, the Uygur autonomous region was created in 1955. Independentists claim they never stopped demonstrations and clandestine actions until now."
Ivan Sache, 8 April 1999


The chart: Flags of Aspirant Peoples shows: 137. "East Turkestan (Uighurs) - West-china, Xinjiang." Similar to cn-xj.gif (last one above), but with very dark blue field. The flag with light blue field is the one used in Uighur demonstrations.
Ivan Sache, 16 September 1999