The music bans are part of wider accusations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including mass detentions between 2017 and 2019 and ongoing restrictions on religious practice.

Residents were urged to suppress religious and cultural expressions as part of a wider coercive control over daily behavior.

Experts warn that almost any Uyghur-language song could be targeted under broad categories, indicating pervasive censorship of Uyghur cultural works.

The crackdown on Uyghur music and cultural expression fits into a broader pattern of repression in Xinjiang, despite official claims of cultural and religious freedom, with intensified controls such as boarding schools and routine phone checks for sensitive materials.

Experts and human rights observers note that the report aligns with past UN findings and illustrates continuing cultural and political repression in Xinjiang.

Authorities described punishments as potentially heavily prosecuted, with unspecified penalties but cited cases of people serving around 10 days in detention for possessing banned songs.

Enforcement appears flexible, with detention ranging from short periods to harsher outcomes; officials referenced cases without fixing penalties.

A pre-recorded message showcased banned songs and warned that even minor infractions could lead to heavy penalties, including prior detentions of about 10 days.

Officials instructed attendees to avoid greetings like 'As-salamu alaykum' and to replace 'May God keep you safe' with 'May the Communist Party protect you,' signaling broader suppression of religious expression.

The policy targets Uyghur-language songs deemed 'problematic,' with penalties including prison for downloading, listening to, storing, or sharing such music.

Banned songs cited include traditional pieces like Besh pede and Abdurehim Heyit’s Forefathers, linking long-standing works to enforcement actions.

AP interviews and a court verdict show enforcement through detentions and prison sentences for music-related offenses, including a producer sentenced to three years for uploading 42 problematic songs.