ئاقتو تۈركمەن | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 4,900 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Xinjiang | |
 China (Akto County) | 2,000[1] |
| Languages | |
| Akto dialect ofUyghur | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kyrgyz,Uyghurs,Uzbeks,Turkmens | |
TheAkto Turkmen (Uyghur:ئاقتو تۈركمەن) are a subgroup of theKyrgyz people who live inXinjiang,China. As a result oflanguage shift, they have adopted theUyghur language as their mother tongue. They reside inAkto County, in theKizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture.[2]
The Akto claim to be fromSamarqand, a city in modernUzbekistan, who settled in the Xinjiang region of China during the 17th century.[2] The Akto have rebelled against the Chinese government many times since theQing dynasty.[3] In 1990, nearly 1,000 Akto Turkmens rebelled against the Chinese government and were mostly detained over separatist charges.[4] It was organised by theEast Turkestan Islamic Party, aUyghur separatist group which plans to makeXinjiang independent.[5]
The Akto Turkmens areSunni Muslims who observe both Kyrgyz and Uyghur festivals, as well a pre-Islamic traits.[2] Though they speak Uyghur, they are recognised by the Chinese government as Kyrgyz. They primarily live in Akto County, as well as two villages outside Akto. They are skilled shepherds and goat herders.
The Akto Turkmen speak a distinct dialect of Uyghur known asAqto Türkmen (ئاقتو تۈركمەن), which is considered byEthnologue to be a variety of Uyghur underTurkmen influence.[6] It is part of the Central Uyghur dialects which are the most spoken Uyghur dialects.[7]
