Khoja Niyaz, Khoja Niyaz Haji, was a Uyghur independence movement leader who led several rebellions in Xinjiang against the Kumul Khanate, the Chinese governor Jin Shuren and later the Hui warlord Ma Zhongying.
12 Facts About Khoja Niyaz
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Khoja Niyaz is best remembered as the first and only president of the short-lived Islamic Republic of Eastern Turkestan from November 1933 until the republic's defeat in April 1934.
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Khoja Niyaz participated in his first rebellion at the age 18, joining a 1907 uprising of peasants and mountaineers against Shah Maqsud, hereditary ruler of Kumul.
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In 1912, Khoja Niyaz returned to Xinjiang where another uprising against the Kumul Khanate, led by Temur Halpa, was developing and he joined the rebellion, quickly being promoted to the position of an adviser to the leader of uprising.
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In 1923, Khoja Niyaz returned to Xinjiang, first to Ghulja, then to Urumchi, where he was involved in organizing underground revolutionary groups and preparing a new rebellion.
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In 1927, he returned to Kumul for the funeral of his father, and after the death of Kumul Khanate ruler Shah Mahsut in March 1930, Hoja Khoja Niyaz was appointed to the high position of adviser to new ruler of the Kumul Khanate.
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Hoja Khoja Niyaz received support from the Mongolian People's Republic: in autumn 1931 they provided him 600 sets of winter clothes, felt tents and 120 rifles.
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On this battle Hoja-Khoja Niyaz forces suffered heavy casualties, but forced garrison of Jimsar to surrender.
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Hoja-Khoja Niyaz agreed to provide the free retreat of besieged garrison in exchange of weapons of the fortress' Arsenal.
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Khoja Niyaz refused to share weapons of the seized Arsenal with Hoja-Niyaz, that outraged the latter.
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Khoja Niyaz was denied his request to meet Stalin in person and to settle the Xinjiang issue in accordance with the Right of nations to self-determination, which was officially supported by the USSR in its revolutionary doctrine.
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In November 1937, following the Rebellion of the 6th Uyghur Division under general Mahmut Muhiti against the Provincial Xinjiang Government at Kashgar, Artush, Yarkand, Aksu, Kucha and Karashar in April-October 1937 in Southern Xinjiang, Khoja Niyaz was arrested in Urumchi and allegedly executed in 1938.