5 - An Oral History of Victims and Survivors of Terrorism in Xinjiang, China

China’s Xinjiang region has long been a hotbed of terrorism, and thousands of people died or were injured in various terrorist attacks in the last two decades. Existing literature on terrorism in Xinjiang largely ignored the plight of the victims and survivors of terror attacks. Filling this regrettable gap, this research examines the stories of the victims and survivors of terror attacks in Xinjiang. This research uses textual, audio, and video recordings to collect, organize, and preserve the oral historical memories of the interviewees. Based on 68 in-depth interviews, the research focuses on the emotional and psychological impact of terrorism on the victims, the changes in the lives of the victims due to terror attacks, and the cognitive consequences of the victims in the aftermath of the terror attacks. This research argues that terrorism is always evil and against humanity, and more attention is needed for the victims and survivors of terrorism in Xinjiang.

Co-author 1: Qing Xia, Jinan University
Co-author 2: Tongtong Gao, Jinan University