Hundreds of women gathered in Istanbul to protest against the Uighur genocide in China. Will the public outcry reverse Erdogan's silence on Uighurs? Palki Sharma tells you why Erdogan's recent criticism of China is superficial.

Gravitas: Protests against Uighur genocide in Istanbul

The Chinese government has committed genocide, crimes against humanity and torture against Uighurs and other minorities in its western province of Xinjiang, reads an unofficial and independent UK-based tribunal has ruled.

China guilty of Uighur genocide in Xinjiang, UK-based tribunal rules

The number of persons sentenced to long prison terms in Xinjiang has increased dramatically since 2014 when Beijing intensified its crackdown on the region's Muslim-majority Uyghurs.&nbsp;

The Chinese government has been accused by the US State Department and human rights organisations of detaining up to two million Uyghurs and Muslim minorities in extralegal detention camps, which Beijing claims are "vocational training centres" aimed to prevent separatism and religious extremism.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-accusations-of-genocide-from-the-west-china-policies-could-cut-millions-of-uyghur-births-in-xinjiang-report-389838">Also Read |&nbsp;Amid accusations of genocide from the West, China policies could cut millions of Uyghur births in Xinjiang: Report</a>

There is a separate programme that includes the long-term imprisonment of Uyghurs for alleged offences including terrorism, separatism, and inciting ethnic hatred, in addition to the detention system (vocational training centres).&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-rape-experimentation-the-uighur-camp-reality-383573/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to a news report by CNN, Newlyweds Mehray Mezensof and Mirzat Taher were two days from leaving Xinjiang to start a new life in Australia when Chinese police knocked on their door in April 2017, seized Taher`s passport and threw him into detention. 
 
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/persecution-of-uyghur-muslims-china-hits-back-at-g7-rights-criticism-383240">Persecution of Uyghur Muslims: China hits back at G7 rights criticism</a>

During the next four years, Taher was imprisoned in Xinjiang detention centres on three separate occasions for months at a time, Mezensof told CNN from her home in Melbourne, where the married couple had hoped to live together.

Then in April this year, she received a phone call to say her husband had been tried for separatism and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

"How could they be that cruel, like how can they be that heartless? My husband didn`t do anything. And he`s already been through so much in the last four years," she said.

The detainee's records don't reveal the crimes committed, or profile the religion or ethnicity of those convicted, reported Rebecca Wright, Ivan Watson and Ben Westcott. Nathan Ruser, a researcher at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and author of a report into Xinjiang satellite imagery, said evidence of increased prison infrastructure and Uyghur testimony from the region indicated that systemic persecution through the courts was likely still prevalent, informed CNN reporters.

In Xinjiang, around 21,000 people were sentenced to prison in 2014.

After four years, the figure had risen to approximately 133,200.

In a territory with a population of almost 25 million people, more than a quarter of a million people were imprisoned between 2016 and 2018.

As more people were sentenced to prison, the length of their sentences grew longer.&nbsp;

The evidence and proves supporting the convictions was not always shared or explained.

Human rights groups have long questioned China's legal system, which has a conviction rate of more than 99%.Out of 1.5 million cases, just 656 people were judged not guilty in Chinese courts in 2020.

(With inputs from agencies)

The number of persons sentenced to long prison terms in Xinjiang has increased dramatically since 2014 when Beijing intensified its crackdown on the region's Muslim-majority Uyghurs.

The number of persons sentenced to long prison terms in Xinjiang has increased dramatically since 2014 when Beijing intensified its crackdown on the region's Muslim-majority Uyghurs. The Chinese government has been accused by the US State Department and human rights organisations of detaining up to two million Uyghurs and Muslim minorities in extralegal detention camps, which Beijing claims are "vocational training centres" aimed to prevent separatism and religious extremism. Also Read | Amid accusations of genocide from the West, China policies could cut millions of Uyghur births in Xinjiang: Report There is a separate programme that includes the long-term imprisonment of Uyghurs for alleged offences including terrorism, separatism, and inciting ethnic hatred, in addition to the detention system (vocational training centres). According to a news report by CNN, Newlyweds Mehray Mezensof and Mirzat Taher were two days from leaving Xinjiang to start a new life in Australia when Chinese police knocked on their door in April 2017, seized Taher`s passport and threw him into detention. Also Read | Persecution of Uyghur Muslims: China hits back at G7 rights criticism During the next four years, Taher was imprisoned in Xinjiang detention centres on three separate occasions for months at a time, Mezensof told CNN from her home in Melbourne, where the married couple had hoped to live together. Then in April this year, she received a phone call to say her husband had been tried for separatism and sentenced to 25 years in prison. "How could they be that cruel, like how can they be that heartless? My husband didn`t do anything. And he`s already been through so much in the last four years," she said. The detainee's records don't reveal the crimes committed, or profile the religion or ethnicity of those convicted, reported Rebecca Wright, Ivan Watson and Ben Westcott. Nathan Ruser, a researcher at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and author of a report into Xinjiang satellite imagery, said evidence of increased prison infrastructure and Uyghur testimony from the region indicated that systemic persecution through the courts was likely still prevalent, informed CNN reporters. In Xinjiang, around 21,000 people were sentenced to prison in 2014. After four years, the figure had risen to approximately 133,200. In a territory with a population of almost 25 million people, more than a quarter of a million people were imprisoned between 2016 and 2018. As more people were sentenced to prison, the length of their sentences grew longer. The evidence and proves supporting the convictions was not always shared or explained. Human rights groups have long questioned China's legal system, which has a conviction rate of more than 99%.Out of 1.5 million cases, just 656 people were judged not guilty in Chinese courts in 2020. (With inputs from agencies)

'How could they be that cruel and heartless?': Uyghurs in China given long prison sentences

Belgian&nbsp;lawmakers on Tuesday put forward a resolution warning of a "serious risk of genocide" against the Uyghur Muslim minority in China's Xinjiang region, adding to Western pressure on Beijing.

Samuel Cogolati, the MP who authored the resolution, said the&nbsp;motion was approved by the parliament's foreign relations committee and will be confirmed by a plenary session on July 1.

Cogolati, who has himself already been hit by sanctions from Beijing, initially pushed for a tougher statement blaming China for committing the "crime of genocide".&nbsp;

But the resolution was toned down last week after a debate inside Belgium's majority coalition of liberals, socialists and greens. &nbsp;

Cogolati still welcomed Tuesday's approval as "a historic vote, that was unimaginable a month ago".&nbsp;

Those behind the text said it would make Belgium's the sixth democratic parliament after Canada, the Netherlands, Britain, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic to denounce "crimes against humanity" against the Uyghurs.

Earlier,&nbsp;G7 leaders on Sunday called on China in a joint statement after their meeting "to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially in relation to Xinjiang".

A report from rights group Amnesty International last week accused Beijing of "systematic state-organised mass imprisonment, torture and persecution amounting to crimes against humanity" in the northwestern region.

China denies allegations that it is committing crimes on a vast scale by forcing up to one million Uyghurs and people from other ethnic-Turkic minorities into internment camps in the region of Xinjiang.

Belgian lawmakers on Tuesday put forward a resolution warning of a "serious risk of genocide" against the Uyghur Muslim minority in China's Xinjiang region, adding to Western pressure on Beijing.

Belgian lawmakers on Tuesday put forward a resolution warning of a "serious risk of genocide" against the Uyghur Muslim minority in China's Xinjiang region, adding to Western pressure on Beijing. Samuel Cogolati, the MP who authored the resolution, said the motion was approved by the parliament's foreign relations committee and will be confirmed by a plenary session on July 1. Cogolati, who has himself already been hit by sanctions from Beijing, initially pushed for a tougher statement blaming China for committing the "crime of genocide". But the resolution was toned down last week after a debate inside Belgium's majority coalition of liberals, socialists and greens. Cogolati still welcomed Tuesday's approval as "a historic vote, that was unimaginable a month ago". Those behind the text said it would make Belgium's the sixth democratic parliament after Canada, the Netherlands, Britain, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic to denounce "crimes against humanity" against the Uyghurs. Earlier, G7 leaders on Sunday called on China in a joint statement after their meeting "to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially in relation to Xinjiang". A report from rights group Amnesty International last week accused Beijing of "systematic state-organised mass imprisonment, torture and persecution amounting to crimes against humanity" in the northwestern region. China denies allegations that it is committing crimes on a vast scale by forcing up to one million Uyghurs and people from other ethnic-Turkic minorities into internment camps in the region of Xinjiang.

Belgian lawmakers put forward resolution warning 'risk of genocide' of China's Uyghurs

History is repeating itself in China. The state is murdering its own people and the world is looking the other way.

For China, it is nothing new. Every Chinese leader has presided over extermination campaigns - Mao Zedong presided over the great leap forward and the cultural revolution in which tens of millions were killed but it was justified as a necessary upheaval.

Decades later, Deng Xiaoping ordered tanks into Tiananmen Square. Several thousand protesters were killed in a single day. Deng would later say Tiananmen was painful, but it achieved common good.

Xi Jinping&nbsp;has become the chief architect of the biggest extermination campaign of the 21st century - the Uighur genocide in Xinjiang.

Like his predecessors, President Xi also&nbsp;has an excuse. He claims to be fighting Islamist radicalism. However, the world has gathered enough proof to the contrary.

According to interviews and raw data, China wants to end the Uighur people. There are nearly a million of them in forced labour camps but this is just the start, if the world keeps ignoring the threat China will turn these labour camps into death camps.

The world needs to keep up the pressure.&nbsp;

Tursunay&nbsp;Ziyawudun was detained twice by the Chinese. Her second stint lasted nearly 10 months. On Thursday, she testified at the US Capitol.

"I was taken on March 8, 2018, and kept there for more than 10 months. Buses would arrive every day with more detainees. It was very overcrowded. There was a bucket in the corner for a toilet and cameras watching us inside the cell," Ziyawudun said.

"We were always hungry. Each meal was a watery soup and a bun. We were given injections of unknown medications. Every day we had to endlessly swear loyalty to the Chinese government and reject our faith. We had to watch endless videos about Xi Jinping," she said.

The testimony is a long list of human rights violations, forced detention, overcrowded cells, surveillance cameras, scientific experimentation and brainwashing.

"Girls would be taken away and only be brought back days later. I saw girls lose their sanity because of it and then I myself was taken, along with another woman. I was tortured with an electric stick pushed inside my genital tract. I could hear the other woman's screams in the next room," Ziyawudun said.

"I knew the guards were raping her. After that, she never stopped crying. One time an order came, all the women had to be sterilised or fitted with an IUD [intrauterine device, a contraceptive]. Many young women were crying, screaming when they were told they would be sterilised and could never have children. I left the camp in December 2018. Before my release, the officials warned me, if I spoke about my experience, there would be heavy consequences," she added.

"I still did not feel free. One day I saw a former cellmate. She had survived but she was dead inside, completely finished by the rapes. The government's goal is to destroy everyone."

What Ziyawudun described is the worst of humanity. Rape and sexual violence is&nbsp;the norm inside these camps. They are used as tools of torture. All of it sanctioned and carried out by the Chinese government. Ziyawudun's last words are quite striking, she says her cellmate was dead inside.

That's exactly what China is trying to do.&nbsp;China is trying to systematically dehumanise Uighurs, remove their culture and identity and replace it with the Han culture and the world has been a spectacular failure on this issue.

This week, the New Zealand parliament was debating the Uighur crackdown and they removed the word genocide from the final statement.

The US has piled up a mountain of evidence against China but when will the prosecution begin? Former President Trump privately supported the crackdown, his successor doesn't want conflict, he wants competition.

The United Nations is a sitting duck for Chinese influence. The secretary-general is yet to appoint a special envoy for Uighurs. There are envoys for climate change, financing Yemen, even the recent coup in Myanmar, but none for Uighurs.

Unlike trade or the South China Sea, there is no strategy, there is only right and wrong. The West has already tried sanctions both on Chinese officials and goods produced in the Xinjiang province but a country preparing for genocide doesn't care about sanctions.

It is a defining moment in history. The world has been here before: a ruthless regime exterminating an ethnic group in death camps. Back then, we reacted late and the cost was millions of lives.

History is repeating itself in China. The state is murdering its own people and the world is looking the other way. For China, it is nothing new. Every Chinese leader has presided over extermination campaigns - Mao Zedong presided over the great leap forward and the cultural revolution in which tens of millions were killed but it was justified as a necessary upheaval.

History is repeating itself in China. The state is murdering its own people and the world is looking the other way. For China, it is nothing new. Every Chinese leader has presided over extermination campaigns - Mao Zedong presided over the great leap forward and the cultural revolution in which tens of millions were killed but it was justified as a necessary upheaval. Decades later, Deng Xiaoping ordered tanks into Tiananmen Square. Several thousand protesters were killed in a single day. Deng would later say Tiananmen was painful, but it achieved common good. Xi Jinping has become the chief architect of the biggest extermination campaign of the 21st century - the Uighur genocide in Xinjiang. Like his predecessors, President Xi also has an excuse. He claims to be fighting Islamist radicalism. However, the world has gathered enough proof to the contrary. According to interviews and raw data, China wants to end the Uighur people. There are nearly a million of them in forced labour camps but this is just the start, if the world keeps ignoring the threat China will turn these labour camps into death camps. The world needs to keep up the pressure. Tursunay Ziyawudun was detained twice by the Chinese. Her second stint lasted nearly 10 months. On Thursday, she testified at the US Capitol. "I was taken on March 8, 2018, and kept there for more than 10 months. Buses would arrive every day with more detainees. It was very overcrowded. There was a bucket in the corner for a toilet and cameras watching us inside the cell," Ziyawudun said. "We were always hungry. Each meal was a watery soup and a bun. We were given injections of unknown medications. Every day we had to endlessly swear loyalty to the Chinese government and reject our faith. We had to watch endless videos about Xi Jinping," she said. The testimony is a long list of human rights violations, forced detention, overcrowded cells, surveillance cameras, scientific experimentation and brainwashing. "Girls would be taken away and only be brought back days later. I saw girls lose their sanity because of it and then I myself was taken, along with another woman. I was tortured with an electric stick pushed inside my genital tract. I could hear the other woman's screams in the next room," Ziyawudun said. "I knew the guards were raping her. After that, she never stopped crying. One time an order came, all the women had to be sterilised or fitted with an IUD [intrauterine device, a contraceptive]. Many young women were crying, screaming when they were told they would be sterilised and could never have children. I left the camp in December 2018. Before my release, the officials warned me, if I spoke about my experience, there would be heavy consequences," she added. "I still did not feel free. One day I saw a former cellmate. She had survived but she was dead inside, completely finished by the rapes. The government's goal is to destroy everyone." What Ziyawudun described is the worst of humanity. Rape and sexual violence is the norm inside these camps. They are used as tools of torture. All of it sanctioned and carried out by the Chinese government. Ziyawudun's last words are quite striking, she says her cellmate was dead inside. That's exactly what China is trying to do. China is trying to systematically dehumanise Uighurs, remove their culture and identity and replace it with the Han culture and the world has been a spectacular failure on this issue. This week, the New Zealand parliament was debating the Uighur crackdown and they removed the word genocide from the final statement. The US has piled up a mountain of evidence against China but when will the prosecution begin? Former President Trump privately supported the crackdown, his successor doesn't want conflict, he wants competition. The United Nations is a sitting duck for Chinese influence. The secretary-general is yet to appoint a special envoy for Uighurs. There are envoys for climate change, financing Yemen, even the recent coup in Myanmar, but none for Uighurs. Unlike trade or the South China Sea, there is no strategy, there is only right and wrong. The West has already tried sanctions both on Chinese officials and goods produced in the Xinjiang province but a country preparing for genocide doesn't care about sanctions. It is a defining moment in history. The world has been here before: a ruthless regime exterminating an ethnic group in death camps. Back then, we reacted late and the cost was millions of lives.

Xi Jinping's China trying to systematically dehumanise Uighurs as the world looks away

China is consistently using social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook to attack the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in a state-backed disinformation campaign to undermine critical reporting by Western media of the human rights abuse of Uighur minorities in Xinjiang province.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-bans-bbc-world-news-for-its-reporting-on-uighur-genocide-covid-19-363002">Also read: China bans BBC World News for its reporting on Uighur genocide, Covid-19</a> 
 
An Australian research group has said that China’s attempts to discredit the BBC show an increased sophistication in tailoring propaganda for Western audiences.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-bans-british-broadcaster-bbc-post-report-on-rape-of-uighur-women-363066/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been actively running a social media campaign against the BBC after it aired a report on February 2 featuring Uighur women who alleged that detainees in camps in the province of Xinjiang were systematically raped, sexually abused and tortured. China’s Foreign Ministry denied the allegations and accused the BBC of making a “false report.”

According to a report published by a think tank — Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) provides a snapshot of the CCP’s ongoing coordinated response targeting the BBC, which leveraged YouTube, Twitter and Facebook and was broadly framed around three prominent narratives:

<ol>
	<li>That the BBC spreads disinformation and is biased against China</li>
	<li>That the BBC’s domestic audiences think that it’s biased and not to be trusted</li>
	<li>That the BBC’s reporting on China is instigated by foreign actors and intelligence agencies.</li>
</ol>

The report says that "to contest and blunt criticism of the CCP’s systematic surveillance and control of minority ethnic groups, the party will continue to aggressively deploy its propaganda and disinformation apparatus."

International rights groups estimate that over one million Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking minority groups in Xinjiang have been held in internment camps since early 2017.

Uighurs who were once detained in internment camps in China’s Xinjiang region say they have been sexually abused and raped during interrogations by Chinese authorities, while also witnessing other fellow detainees being raped.

(With inputs from agencies)

China is consistently using social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook to attack the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in a state-backed disinformation campaign to undermine critical reporting by Western media of the human rights abuse of Uighur minorities in Xinjiang province.

China is consistently using social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook to attack the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in a state-backed disinformation campaign to undermine critical reporting by Western media of the human rights abuse of Uighur minorities in Xinjiang province. Also read: China bans BBC World News for its reporting on Uighur genocide, Covid-19 An Australian research group has said that China’s attempts to discredit the BBC show an increased sophistication in tailoring propaganda for Western audiences. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been actively running a social media campaign against the BBC after it aired a report on February 2 featuring Uighur women who alleged that detainees in camps in the province of Xinjiang were systematically raped, sexually abused and tortured. China’s Foreign Ministry denied the allegations and accused the BBC of making a “false report.” According to a report published by a think tank — Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) provides a snapshot of the CCP’s ongoing coordinated response targeting the BBC, which leveraged YouTube, Twitter and Facebook and was broadly framed around three prominent narratives: That the BBC spreads disinformation and is biased against China That the BBC’s domestic audiences think that it’s biased and not to be trusted That the BBC’s reporting on China is instigated by foreign actors and intelligence agencies. The report says that "to contest and blunt criticism of the CCP’s systematic surveillance and control of minority ethnic groups, the party will continue to aggressively deploy its propaganda and disinformation apparatus." International rights groups estimate that over one million Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking minority groups in Xinjiang have been held in internment camps since early 2017. Uighurs who were once detained in internment camps in China’s Xinjiang region say they have been sexually abused and raped during interrogations by Chinese authorities, while also witnessing other fellow detainees being raped. (With inputs from agencies)

China using social media to discredit BBC in state propaganda campaign, says Australian think tank

A global campaign to call out China's genocide is underway. After Canada, the Dutch parliament has passed a resolution - labelling China's treatment of the Uighurs as genocide. What do these indictments mean for China? WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Now, A European Nation is blaming China for genocide

China is carrying out the largest genocide since the Holocaust. The world is joining hands to punish China. Will India join in too? WION's Palki Sharma tells you all you need to know about the Uighur genocide in less than 7 mins.

Gravitas: China called out on Uighur genocide

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday slammed ''institutionalised repression" of China's Uighur minority.

Activists and U.N. rights experts have said that at least 1 million Muslims are detained in camps in the remote western region. China denies abuses and says its camps provide vocational training and are needed to fight extremism.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-parliament-describes-treatment-of-uighur-muslims-in-china-as-genocide-365558" hreflang="en">Canada Parliament describes treatment of Uighur Muslims in China as 'genocide'</a>

Speaking by video link at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Le Drian said that witness accounts and documents from the Chinese region of Xinjiang pointed to "unjustifiable practises towards Uighurs, and a system of large-scale surveillance and institutionalised repression."

Le Drian cited Xinjiang among several examples of "considerable regressions for human rights" in 2020.

He also listed the "attempted murder" of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who was poisoned with a nerve agent in an attack he blames on the Kremlin, as well the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Belarus, the ongoing wars in Syria and Yemen and the coup in Myanmar.

Le Drian also expressed "great concern" about the fate of Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was jailed in 2018 after defending a woman arrested for protesting against the requirement for Iranian women to wear the hijab.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the U.N. Human Rights Council that it was taking counter-terrorism measures in accordance with the law and that Xinjiang enjoyed "social stability and sound development" after four years without any "terrorist case."

There were 24,000 mosques in Xinjiang, where people of all ethnic groups also enjoyed labour rights, he said.

The Biden administration last month endorsed a last-minute determination by the Trump administration that China has committed genocide in Xinjiang and has said the United States must be prepared to impose costs on China.

Earlier, British foreign secretary Dominic Raab denounced torture, forced labor and sterilizations that he said were taking place against&nbsp;Uighurs&nbsp;on an "industrial scale" in Xinjiang. "The situation in Xinjiang is beyond the pale," he said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday slammed ''institutionalised repression" of China's Uighur minority. Activists and U.N. rights experts have said that at least 1 million Muslims are detained in camps in the remote western region.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday slammed ''institutionalised repression" of China's Uighur minority. Activists and U.N. rights experts have said that at least 1 million Muslims are detained in camps in the remote western region. China denies abuses and says its camps provide vocational training and are needed to fight extremism. Also read: Canada Parliament describes treatment of Uighur Muslims in China as 'genocide' Speaking by video link at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Le Drian said that witness accounts and documents from the Chinese region of Xinjiang pointed to "unjustifiable practises towards Uighurs, and a system of large-scale surveillance and institutionalised repression." Le Drian cited Xinjiang among several examples of "considerable regressions for human rights" in 2020. He also listed the "attempted murder" of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who was poisoned with a nerve agent in an attack he blames on the Kremlin, as well the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Belarus, the ongoing wars in Syria and Yemen and the coup in Myanmar. Le Drian also expressed "great concern" about the fate of Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was jailed in 2018 after defending a woman arrested for protesting against the requirement for Iranian women to wear the hijab. Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the U.N. Human Rights Council that it was taking counter-terrorism measures in accordance with the law and that Xinjiang enjoyed "social stability and sound development" after four years without any "terrorist case." There were 24,000 mosques in Xinjiang, where people of all ethnic groups also enjoyed labour rights, he said. The Biden administration last month endorsed a last-minute determination by the Trump administration that China has committed genocide in Xinjiang and has said the United States must be prepared to impose costs on China. Earlier, British foreign secretary Dominic Raab denounced torture, forced labor and sterilizations that he said were taking place against Uighurs on an "industrial scale" in Xinjiang. "The situation in Xinjiang is beyond the pale," he said.

France denounces 'institutional repression' of China's Uighurs

China on Tuesday decried a&nbsp;motion by Canada's parliament saying its treatment of the Uighur Muslim minority in the Xinjiang region constitutes genocide.

Canada's House of Commons on Monday voted 266-0 for the non-binding motion brought by the opposition Conservative Party.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet abstained from the vote, although Liberal backbenchers widely backed it.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-parliament-describes-treatment-of-uighur-muslims-in-china-as-genocide-365558">Canada Parliament describes treatment of Uighur Muslims in China as 'genocide'</a>

The motion was also amended just before the vote to call on the International Olympic Committee to move the 2022 Winter Olympics from Beijing if the treatment continues.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing that the motion "disregards facts and common sense", adding that Beijing had "lodged stern representations" with Canada.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-rejects-genocide-charges-in-xinjiang-region-365663/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

This comes after Donald Trump's outgoing administration last month said Beijing's incarceration of mostly Muslim minorities in its far-western Xinjiang region amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity.

"It's a word that is extremely loaded and is certainly something that we should be looking at in the case of the Uighurs," Trudeau told a news conference.&nbsp;

"I know the international community is looking very carefully at that and we are certainly among them, and we will not hesitate from being part of the determinations around these sorts of things."

He said there was "no question" there had been significant human rights abuses reported coming out of Xinjiang.

"We are extremely concerned about that and have highlighted our concerns many times. But when it comes to the application of the very specific word 'genocide,' we simply need to ensure that all the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed in the processes before a determination like that is made," Trudeau added.

Rights groups say at least one million Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims have been incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang.&nbsp;

Independent access to the sensitive area is highly restricted, making reporting and verification of the allegations near impossible.

But witnesses and activists say China is seeking to forcibly integrate the Uighurs into the majority Han culture by eradicating Islamic customs, including by forcing Muslims to eat pork and drink alcohol -- both forbidden by their faith -- while imposing a regime of effective forced labour.

In January, then US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said: "We are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese party-state."

His successor, Antony Blinken, has said he agreed with the label, and vowed to stay tough on China.

China has denied wrongdoing and contends that its camps are vocational training centers meant to reduce the allure of Islamic extremism in the wake of attacks.

Canada-China relations soured in late 2018 over the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, and China's detention of two Canadians -- former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor -- in what Ottawa has called retaliation.

China on Tuesday decried a motion by Canada's parliament saying its treatment of the Uighur Muslim minority in the Xinjiang region constitutes genocide. Canada's House of Commons on Monday voted 266-0 for the non-binding motion brought by the opposition Conservative Party.

China on Tuesday decried a motion by Canada's parliament saying its treatment of the Uighur Muslim minority in the Xinjiang region constitutes genocide. Canada's House of Commons on Monday voted 266-0 for the non-binding motion brought by the opposition Conservative Party. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet abstained from the vote, although Liberal backbenchers widely backed it. Also read: Canada Parliament describes treatment of Uighur Muslims in China as 'genocide' The motion was also amended just before the vote to call on the International Olympic Committee to move the 2022 Winter Olympics from Beijing if the treatment continues. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing that the motion "disregards facts and common sense", adding that Beijing had "lodged stern representations" with Canada. This comes after Donald Trump's outgoing administration last month said Beijing's incarceration of mostly Muslim minorities in its far-western Xinjiang region amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity. "It's a word that is extremely loaded and is certainly something that we should be looking at in the case of the Uighurs," Trudeau told a news conference. "I know the international community is looking very carefully at that and we are certainly among them, and we will not hesitate from being part of the determinations around these sorts of things." He said there was "no question" there had been significant human rights abuses reported coming out of Xinjiang. "We are extremely concerned about that and have highlighted our concerns many times. But when it comes to the application of the very specific word 'genocide,' we simply need to ensure that all the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed in the processes before a determination like that is made," Trudeau added. Rights groups say at least one million Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims have been incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang. Independent access to the sensitive area is highly restricted, making reporting and verification of the allegations near impossible. But witnesses and activists say China is seeking to forcibly integrate the Uighurs into the majority Han culture by eradicating Islamic customs, including by forcing Muslims to eat pork and drink alcohol -- both forbidden by their faith -- while imposing a regime of effective forced labour. In January, then US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said: "We are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese party-state." His successor, Antony Blinken, has said he agreed with the label, and vowed to stay tough on China. China has denied wrongdoing and contends that its camps are vocational training centers meant to reduce the allure of Islamic extremism in the wake of attacks. Canada-China relations soured in late 2018 over the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, and China's detention of two Canadians -- former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor -- in what Ottawa has called retaliation.

'Disregards facts and common sense': China decries Canada's motion saying its treatment of Uighurs is 'genocide'

Over 50 religious leaders across Ireland have condemned the persecution of Uighurs and other Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province in a statement.&nbsp;

The statement&nbsp;issued by the human rights organisation Christian Solidarity Worldwide in August 2020, has been signed by representatives of religious communities from across the island of Ireland.

According to Ireland national television and Radio broadcaster RTE, the statement said that at least a million Uighur and other Muslims in China are incarcerated in prison camps facing starvation, torture, murder, sexual violence, slave labour and forced organ extraction.

"We make a simple call for justice, to investigate these crimes, hold those responsible to account and establish a path towards the restoration of human dignity". They recalled how "after the Holocaust, the world said 'never again'.

"Today, we repeat those words 'never again', all over again. We stand with the Uighurs. We also stand with Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners and Christians throughout China who face the worst crackdown on freedom of religion or belief since the cultural revolution," Irish Times quoted the statement.&nbsp;

There was "a simple call for justice, to investigate these crimes, hold those responsible to account and establish a path towards the restoration of human dignity", the religious leaders concluded.

China has been rebuked globally for cracking down on Uyghur Muslims by sending them to mass detention camps, interfering in their religious activities and sending members of the community to undergo some form of forcible re-education or indoctrination.&nbsp;

Beijing, on the other hand, has vehemently denied that it is engaged in human rights abuses against the Uighurs in Xinjiang while reports from journalists, NGOs and former detainees have surfaced, highlighting the Chinese Communist Party's brutal crackdown on the ethnic community, according to a report.

(With inputs from ANI)

Over 50 religious leaders across Ireland have condemned the persecution of Uighurs and other Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province in a statement. The statement issued by the human rights organisation Christian Solidarity Worldwide in August 2020, has been signed by representatives of religious communities from across the island of Ireland.

Over 50 religious leaders across Ireland have condemned the persecution of Uighurs and other Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province in a statement. The statement issued by the human rights organisation Christian Solidarity Worldwide in August 2020, has been signed by representatives of religious communities from across the island of Ireland. According to Ireland national television and Radio broadcaster RTE, the statement said that at least a million Uighur and other Muslims in China are incarcerated in prison camps facing starvation, torture, murder, sexual violence, slave labour and forced organ extraction. "We make a simple call for justice, to investigate these crimes, hold those responsible to account and establish a path towards the restoration of human dignity". They recalled how "after the Holocaust, the world said 'never again'. "Today, we repeat those words 'never again', all over again. We stand with the Uighurs. We also stand with Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners and Christians throughout China who face the worst crackdown on freedom of religion or belief since the cultural revolution," Irish Times quoted the statement. There was "a simple call for justice, to investigate these crimes, hold those responsible to account and establish a path towards the restoration of human dignity", the religious leaders concluded. China has been rebuked globally for cracking down on Uyghur Muslims by sending them to mass detention camps, interfering in their religious activities and sending members of the community to undergo some form of forcible re-education or indoctrination. Beijing, on the other hand, has vehemently denied that it is engaged in human rights abuses against the Uighurs in Xinjiang while reports from journalists, NGOs and former detainees have surfaced, highlighting the Chinese Communist Party's brutal crackdown on the ethnic community, according to a report. (With inputs from ANI)

Irish religious leaders condemn the persecution of Uighur Muslims in China

The National Radio and Television Administration of China has banned British television channel BBC World News from airing in Chinese mainland.

China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) announced the ban on Thursday, stating that the BBC’s reports “violated the requirements that news should be truthful and fair, harmed China’s national interests, and undermined China’s national unity.” 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-state-broadcaster-cgtn-kicked-out-of-uk-after-ofcom-ruling-361413">Also read | China's state broadcaster CGTN kicked out of UK after Ofcom ruling</a> 
 
The channel therefore does not meet requirements for foreign channels broadcasting in China and its application to air for another year will not be accepted, it added.

The BBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On February 4, British media regulator Ofcom revoked China Global Television Network’s (CGTN) licence to broadcast in the United Kingdom after an investigation found the licence was wrongfully held by Star China Media Ltd.

The tit-for-tat move comes after the UK media regulator, Ofcom, revoked the broadcast license of the Chinese CGTN network.

China is facing international criticism over reports it has imprisoned around 1 million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in vast labour camps in the autonomous region of Xinjiang in the west of the country that it claims are "re-education" facilities. China denies accusations of imprisonment and claims it is fighting domestic terrorism and separatism.

(With inputs from agencies)

The National Radio and Television Administration of China has banned British television channel BBC World News from airing in Chinese mainland. China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) announced the ban on Thursday, stating that the BBC’s reports “violated the requirements that news should be truthful and fair, harmed China’s national interests, and undermined China’s national unity.

The National Radio and Television Administration of China has banned British television channel BBC World News from airing in Chinese mainland. China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) announced the ban on Thursday, stating that the BBC’s reports “violated the requirements that news should be truthful and fair, harmed China’s national interests, and undermined China’s national unity.” Also read | China's state broadcaster CGTN kicked out of UK after Ofcom ruling The channel therefore does not meet requirements for foreign channels broadcasting in China and its application to air for another year will not be accepted, it added. The BBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On February 4, British media regulator Ofcom revoked China Global Television Network’s (CGTN) licence to broadcast in the United Kingdom after an investigation found the licence was wrongfully held by Star China Media Ltd. The tit-for-tat move comes after the UK media regulator, Ofcom, revoked the broadcast license of the Chinese CGTN network. China is facing international criticism over reports it has imprisoned around 1 million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in vast labour camps in the autonomous region of Xinjiang in the west of the country that it claims are "re-education" facilities. China denies accusations of imprisonment and claims it is fighting domestic terrorism and separatism. (With inputs from agencies)

China bans BBC World News for its reporting on Uighur genocide, Covid-19

The international criminal court has asked for more evidence before it starts an investigation to claims of Uighur genocide by china. The international body has said that there is not enough evidence to open full scale investigation against china.

China faces charges of Uighur genocide

The international criminal court (ICC) has asked for more evidence in order to open an investigation into claims of genocide against Uighur Muslims by China

China notably is not a signatory to the ICC.

People who have been bringing to the ICC the claim of genocide have pointed to the alleged forcing of Uighur people from Tajikistan and Cambodia into China as evidence.&nbsp;

But the ICC has said there is still insufficient evidence to warrant opening a full-scale investigation. Both countries are signatories to the Rome statute setting up the ICC.

The complaint was submitted in July on behalf of the East Turkistan Government in Exile and the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement.

The decisions of ICC pre-trial chambers in two previous cases in 2018 and 2019 concerning crimes against Rohingya people in Bangladesh and Myanmar decided that the court may exercise jurisdiction over international crimes when part of the criminal conduct takes place on the territory of a state that is a signatory to the ICC.

The latest complaint states that the alleged crimes committed against the Uighur Muslims in north-west China have been widespread and systematic. The crimes include people being subjected to imprisonment and torture as well as forced birth control, sterilisations and marriages.

The ICC is expected to make its ruling known in the next few days ahead of the assembly of state parties taking place in The Hague from December 14-16.&nbsp;

The international criminal court (ICC) has asked for more evidence in order to open an investigation into claims of genocide against Uighur Muslims by China China notably is not a signatory to the ICC.

The international criminal court (ICC) has asked for more evidence in order to open an investigation into claims of genocide against Uighur Muslims by China China notably is not a signatory to the ICC. People who have been bringing to the ICC the claim of genocide have pointed to the alleged forcing of Uighur people from Tajikistan and Cambodia into China as evidence. But the ICC has said there is still insufficient evidence to warrant opening a full-scale investigation. Both countries are signatories to the Rome statute setting up the ICC. The complaint was submitted in July on behalf of the East Turkistan Government in Exile and the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement. The decisions of ICC pre-trial chambers in two previous cases in 2018 and 2019 concerning crimes against Rohingya people in Bangladesh and Myanmar decided that the court may exercise jurisdiction over international crimes when part of the criminal conduct takes place on the territory of a state that is a signatory to the ICC. The latest complaint states that the alleged crimes committed against the Uighur Muslims in north-west China have been widespread and systematic. The crimes include people being subjected to imprisonment and torture as well as forced birth control, sterilisations and marriages. The ICC is expected to make its ruling known in the next few days ahead of the assembly of state parties taking place in The Hague from December 14-16.

ICC asks for more evidence on claims of Uighur genocide

A genocide of Uighur Muslims is underway in Xinjiang, but the Islamic world has chosen China's money over China's Muslims. The principle of 'Muslim brotherhood' is being used based on economic interests. On Gravitas Plus, Palki Sharma Upadhyay challenges top 5 Islamic leaders to break their silence.

Gravitas Plus: Uighur genocide: Speak up, Islamic world

A Uighur woman got separated from her family. WION spoke to her son Ferkat Jawdat, who is a Uighur activist. Watch this video to know more.

Uighur woman separated from family by China, Son appeals for release

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