"We haven't heard anything since 2017," said Maria Mohammad, co-owner of Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine. "They decided to erase our culture."

​

It's been six years since Maria has been able to speak to her husband after finding out he was arrested by the Chinese Government and put in a concentration camp in Western China. The reason? For allowing his children to be educated in the United States and being Uyghur. 

​

In Xinjiang, China 11 million people are part of the Uyghur community, a Turkish ethnic group from Central and East Asia, the majority identifying as Muslim. A series of violent protests started in the region in July 2009 after a false accusation of rape of a Han woman by a Uyghur man led to two men fighting while working at a factory. 

A total of 1,721 people were severely injured during the first day of protests and since then the Chinese government starting implementing intense government restrictions on the Uyghur community and over 1,000 people were initially arrested."I saw how the police treated the Uyghurs, how they discriminate, how they killed people," said Maria. "Maybe you don't believe this story, but we have seen and witnessed it." 
​
In 2016, Maria's family opened Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "The first year was very tough," said Korban, Maria's son-in-law. He explained how the whole family hadn't had a day off for three months, working to keep the doors open and the restaurant running. As things got easier and customers kept coming in, the family realized they needed to preserve their culture and the small community of only 150 people in Cambridge. 
​
Going forward Korban, Maria and the rest of their family aspire to share their experiences for Uyghur families still residing in China under strict laws. Additionally, Korban encourages Americans to explore new horizons, stating, "When you have the opportunity, try new things, try new dishes and meet new people. It will open your mind, broaden your knowledge, and you might change your ideas."