Help Us Protect Uyghur Culture: May 5 is Uyghur Doppa Day

May 2, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact: Peter Irwin +1 (646) 906-7722, Omer Kanat +1 (202) 790-1795

May 5 is Uyghur Doppa Day—a day to honor and share the rich cultural heritage of the Uyghur people. The doppa, a beautiful four-pointed hat, is so much more than a piece of clothing. It is a symbol of our identity, history, and resilience.

The colors and patterns of each doppa can reflect the wearer’s hometown and tradition, making it a truly personal and powerful emblem of who we are. 

While we proudly celebrate this day, we cannot ignore the heavy reality that surrounds us. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues its systematic oppression of Uyghurs—through mass internment, forced assimilation, destruction of cultural and religious sites, and an ongoing genocide. Our language, our traditions, and our very existence are under threat.

Yet despite everything, we remain unbroken. The doppa is more than a hat—it’s a symbol of resistance, dignity, and the enduring strength of our people. When we wear the doppa, we are sending a clear message: We are still here. We are Uyghur. We will not be erased.

In a new essay for UHRP Insights, Rafael Kokbore shares what Doppa Day means to him:

“As long as the Uyghurs are still here, and we wear our doppa on our heads, we Uyghurs will eventually overcome the difficulties and revive our nation. No matter where fate takes me, no matter where I drift in the world, our Uyghur doppa will always remind me that I am a proud Uyghur.”

On May 5, join us by wearing your doppa with pride. Speak your language, share your stories, sing your songs, and teach the next generation. Every act of cultural preservation is an act of defiance and hope. May this Doppa Day be a reminder of the beauty of Uyghur culture, and a call to the world to stand with us in solidarity.

Join us in the movement to protect Uyghur culture. Use the hashtag #UyghurDoppa to tell us what Doppa Day means to you!