Rian Thum

Rian Thum is a Senior Lecturer in East Asian History at The University of Manchester, affiliated with the Manchester China Institute. He holds a PhD from Harvard University (2010). His research focuses on the religious and social history of Xinjiang, particularly Uyghur communities, Islamic traditions, and the intersection of history and contemporary politics. He has contributed to understanding the cultural and religious dynamics of Central Asia and China, emphasizing historical continuity and modern state interventions.

Key awards include the Fairbank Prize (2015), Philip Leverhulme Prize (2020), and ACLS Fellowship (2017). His work spans academic articles, book prizes, and media commentary on Xinjiang’s human rights crisis. Thum’s research integrates historical analysis with modern issues, addressing topics such as Sufi orders, ethnic identity, and state policies.

His publications include studies on Naqshbandiyya Sufi orders, Xinjiang’s holy sites, and the Uyghur internment crisis. He has delivered invited lectures, including the Abdallah S. Kamel Lecture (2020), and engaged in public discourse on China’s policies through media platforms like The Telegraph.