The Thinking Youth The Ummah has ABANDONED the Uyghurs and Gaza - With Guzelya Marisova
Sep 17, 2025
Guzelya Marisova, an Uyghur author and activist, passionately explores the neglected parallels between the Uyghur and Palestinian struggles. She discusses her children's books as tools for advocacy, linking imagery that resonates with young readers. The conversation dives into the geopolitical dynamics that lead to denialism around the Uyghur cause, raising awareness about cultural resilience and the importance of maintaining identity. Guzelya also shares impactful books that shaped her worldview, emphasizing the role of Islam in preserving her heritage.
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Writing From Maternal Identity
- Guzelya wrote a Uyghur children's book after struggling with language and identity while raising a mixed-heritage child in Indonesia.
- The project took three years of research and collaboration with Uyghur diaspora groups to capture homeland storytelling.
October Shock Shifted Priorities
- The October 2023 Gaza images reawakened Guzelya's trauma and paused her Uyghur book work temporarily.
- She saw social readiness for Palestinian stories yet noticed reluctance to accept other oppressed causes.
Parallel Colonial Narratives
- Guzelya draws a direct parallel between systematic colonization in Palestine and East Turkestan based on erasure of native peoples.
- She argues the Uyghur cause is under-recognized because it lacks direct religious framing like Bayt al-Maqdis.
