Uyghur photographer battles stereotypes with fascinating portraits

Published 0202 GMT (1002 HKT) October 17, 2014

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My name's Ahmetjan Abudurahman, I'm from Xinjiang, I'm a Uyghur and I'm 36. I came to study in Beijing in 2000 and got my bachelor's degree and master's degree from China University of Petroleum. I studied in Germany for my doctor's degree through a government-funded program. Now I'm a deputy director of a project at oil company Sinopec. Courtesy Kubanjan Samat

My name's Xie Yaer, I'm a Han Chinese from Xinjiang. I'm a radio show host at Beijing People's Radio Jiaotong Channel, a popular local radio channel. Once the channel organized a four-month reporting trip to Hotan around early 2012. I signed up without giving it much thought. After I arrived in Hotan I went around some counties and found nearly no Han Chinese in these areas. There's no barrier between me and my Uyghur friends besides language, because they're all passionate and simple people. Courtesy Kurbanjan Samat

I'm Bayirta, and here's my wife Bayin. We're Mongolians from Xinjiang. I'm 30. I used to be guitarist and composer for a band and we won a national award in 2011. I just got married with Bayin this year, she was our back-up vocalist. We're preparing to set up our own band this year. Courtesy Kurbanjan Samat

My name's Kai Bo, I'm 30, I'm a Hui (Muslim) Chinese. I'm a TV show host. My biggest dream is to have my own show in Beijing and help my parents move here after I settle down. Courtesy Kurbanjan Samat

My name is Memedik Dilkar. I'm from Xinjiang, I'm a Tajik and I'm 24 years old. My hometown is a village in the Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County. I graduated from college in 2012 and became an operation manager at a local firm in Xinjiang. Now I'm studying at Minzu University of China. I wish to get a bachelor's degree so I can find a steady job. Courtesy Kurbanjan Samat

My name is Tilvwbek Zarhonbek. I'm from Xinjiang, I'm a Kazakh and I'm 25. My name in Kazakh language means "dream." I work as manager at a restaurant in Beijing run by my relatives. My older sister also works in Beijing. And she has helped me a lot. I like music very much. I like singing, especially Kazakh songs. My dream this year is to find a long-term job related to music and culture. Courtesy Kurbanjan Samat

I'm Nefise Nehmat. I'm from Xinjiang. I'm a Uyghur and I'm 35. I've been a practicing attorney at Jindu law firm in Shanghai after graduating from East China University of Political Science and Law in 2008. This year, I began to study for my master's degree in comparative law at Emory University in the U.S. My dream now is to become a representative in the National People's Congress, and fight for the rights of female ethnic minorities. Courtesy Kubanjan Samat

My name is Zhang Zhiqiang. I'm from Xinjiang. I'm Han Chinese, and I'm 35 years old. I run a mobile phone business in Shenzhen. When I was little, I had many brothers and my parents were always busy at work so they sent me to a good Uyghur friend of theirs. I became his foster child until I was old enough to go to middle school. That's why I also have Uyghur parents and treat them like my birth parents. I turned Muslim when I was doing business in Kazakhstan. Now I'm a pious Muslim. I pray five times a day. Courtesy Kubanjan Samat

I'm Shaudun Mamat. I'm from Xinjiang. I'm a Uyghur and I'm 42. I lead a research department on Islamic architecture. I've been the chief designer of major mosques at in Zhejiang and Hainan. This one behind us, the Nanguan mosque of Xinning city in Qinghai, is one of the projects I worked on as chief designer. I've been living in Beijing six years now. Courtesy Kubanjan Samat

Kurbanjan Samat, 32, is a cameraman and photographer. He started a project called "I'm from Xinjiang" last December to take portraits of people from Xinjiang now living in other places. He's publishing a book of 100 stories selected from more than 500 people he spoke to. Courtesy Kurbanjan Samat