A truck travels on a road near mountains in China's Xinjiang province. The region is rich in oil and minerals.
A truck travels on a road near mountains in China's Xinjiang province. The region is rich in oil and minerals.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
A Uyghur man stands on the main square in Hotan, China. The province was contested among Mongols and Turkic groups before coming under Chinese rule in the 18th century. Recently, the Turkic-speaking Uyghurs of the province have protested Chinese rule as they become a minority group to the immigrating Han Chinese.
A Uyghur man stands on the main square in Hotan, China. The province was contested among Mongols and Turkic groups before coming under Chinese rule in the 18th century. Recently, the Turkic-speaking Uyghurs of the province have protested Chinese rule as they become a minority group to the immigrating Han Chinese.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
Early morning in Urumqi, China. The area is mainly populated by Han Chinese, photographer Raphael Fournier said. He said the Uyghur and the Han hardly mingle as tensions between both communities are very significant.
Early morning in Urumqi, China. The area is mainly populated by Han Chinese, photographer Raphael Fournier said. He said the Uyghur and the Han hardly mingle as tensions between both communities are very significant.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
A newly built district of Wansu, China, right outside the city of Aksu. Despite an increasing number of real estate projects, Xinjiang remains one of the less developed regions in China, Fournier said.
A newly built district of Wansu, China, right outside the city of Aksu. Despite an increasing number of real estate projects, Xinjiang remains one of the less developed regions in China, Fournier said.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
A Uyghur bride boards a car in Korla, China.
A Uyghur bride boards a car in Korla, China.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
Mannequins inside a shop of the Grand Bazaar in Urumqi.
Mannequins inside a shop of the Grand Bazaar in Urumqi.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
graphic warning - single image
A sheep in Kashgar, China, right after it was killed "halal," a way permissible by Islam. Muslims are the religious majority in the region, but a minority in greater China.
A sheep in Kashgar, China, right after it was killed "halal," a way permissible by Islam. Muslims are the religious majority in the region, but a minority in greater China.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
Uyghur women in Kashgar celebrate Newroz, the traditional Iranian new year holiday.
Uyghur women in Kashgar celebrate Newroz, the traditional Iranian new year holiday.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
New residential buildings as seen from an old area of Kashgar.
New residential buildings as seen from an old area of Kashgar.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
A butcher on the street in Kashgar.
A butcher on the street in Kashgar.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
A painted wall in Kuqa, China.
A painted wall in Kuqa, China.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
People dance in a nightclub.
People dance in a nightclub.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
The Aksu main square, where Fournier said he was arrested for taking "sensitive" pictures. This is also where a series of violent clashes happened last year, he said.
The Aksu main square, where Fournier said he was arrested for taking "sensitive" pictures. This is also where a series of violent clashes happened last year, he said.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
A construction worker fixes a backhoe in Kuqa.
A construction worker fixes a backhoe in Kuqa.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
A shepherd and a herd of camels cross a road in the Taklamakan Desert a few kilometers south of Hotan.
A shepherd and a herd of camels cross a road in the Taklamakan Desert a few kilometers south of Hotan.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
Uyghur children in Yengisar, China.
Uyghur children in Yengisar, China.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence
A man rides a horse in a livestock market of the Kashgar area.
A man rides a horse in a livestock market of the Kashgar area.
Raphaël Fournier/Divergence