Virginia, Jan. 19 -- In a recent article, Abdulhakim Idris, Executive Director of the Centre for Uyghur Studies, warned that China's reported bans on Uyghur songs are part of a broader campaign to erase Uyghur culture.

This article has been published by the Centre for Uyghur Studies, a non-profit organisation based in Virginia, United States.

Idris said the restrictions on music go beyond regulating art, as they threaten the survival of a people's identity.

According to Idris, Chinese authorities have labelled Uyghur songs "problematic" for reasons including religious content, references to history, or the promotion of "discontent" with society.

He noted that these broad categories could criminalise nearly any song, particularly those...