Amnesty International: China Must Explain 'Widespread Repression' of Muslims

On October 24, Amnesty International reported that the Chinese government must explain the situation and fate of one million Muslims living in the Xinjiang region, who are said to be subjected to 'widespread repression.' Recently, new critical reports have emerged regarding the status of Muslims, specifically a group of Uyghurs, in western China. In mid-August, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination stated that one million Uyghur minority citizens are 'secretly detained in something resembling a large camp.' This monitoring body expressed 'deep concern' over various reports in this regard, emphasizing that the Chinese government has turned the autonomous region of [Xinjiang] Uyghur into something akin to a very large and secret camp, as it claims to be combating 'religious extremism.' Now, Amnesty International also states in its report that 'hundreds of thousands of families' have been separated and have no news of each other. 'Radio Free Asia' recently reported that since April 2017, Uyghurs accused of 'having extremist religious views' have been detained in places known as 're-education camps.' These camps are located throughout the autonomous region of Xinjiang. Amnesty International states that Beijing must end the increasing government campaign of mass detention, surveillance, forced political and ideological re-education, and coercing Uyghurs into cultural assimilation. According to this organization, 'Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities living in China are punished for not adhering to laws regarding beard trimming or not wearing the burqa and possessing unauthorized Qurans (from the government's perspective).' The Chinese government claims that the Xinjiang region faces security threats due to the presence of Islamist militant and separatist groups. According to the central government in Beijing, these groups are conspiring and exacerbating tensions between 'Uyghurs' and 'Han' - the main indigenous groups in China. The Xinjiang region has previously been the scene of deadly riots and tensions that ultimately ended with extensive security force intervention, away from media scrutiny and without permission for coverage. These conflicts over the years have claimed hundreds of lives and led to death sentences and long-term imprisonments. Chinese state media claim that the camps criticized by international bodies are 'educational and training institutions,' and Western media 'make baseless criticisms of the human rights situation in China.' China has yet to respond to Amnesty International's request, although the likelihood of a formal response or statements beyond what has already been made seems unlikely.