China has condemned a motion passed by Dutch lawmakers declaring that Beijing's actions towards minority groups in Xinjiang amounted to genocide.

The Dutch parliament passed the motion on Thursday that "genocide is underway in China against the Uighur minority," joining countries including Canada and the United States in applying the label.

Rights groups believe at least one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in the northwestern region, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin on Friday, to this end, hit back at the motion, accusing Dutch lawmakers of using Xinjiang as an excuse to "deliberately smear China and crudely interfere in China's internal affairs."

"The facts show that there has never been any 'genocide' in Xinjiang," Wang told reporters at a regular briefing.

The Netherlands is the first European country to accuse China of genocide, after Canadian MPs and the US State Department made similar statements.

After initially denying the existence of the Xinjiang camps, China later defended them as vocational training centres aimed at reducing the appeal of Islamic extremism.

Beijing said last week that its treatment of ethnic minorities there and in Tibet "stood out as shining examples of China's human rights progress."

Wang on Friday said he hoped the Netherlands would "immediately stop its wrongdoings and take concrete actions to safeguard the overall situation of bilateral relations."

He also said EU representatives were welcome to visit Xinjiang, and accused the EU of causing delays to the trip by demanding to meet with "criminals" sentenced for separatism.

Earlier this week, in Beijing, a Chinese spokesperson held up the photograph of a victim who revealed abuses. In short, the wolf warriors called her an actor who is disseminating falsehoods.

When faced with criticism at global platforms, China has deployed its diplomats to fire back.

The same thing happened with Hong Kong. When China was criticised for its crackdown, it secured the support of more than 50 countries at the human rights council.

Similarly, when Xinjiang was raised in 2019, 54 countries signed a statement in support of China.

Now it's back in focus. The UK has called for a UN-led probe into the Uighur detention camps.

And the UN human rights chief is ready to visit Xinjiang.

But resolutions and criticism have little impact on China. Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch said China has increased its persecution of Uighurs with more prosecutions and longer prison sentences.

Branding it a genocide is a welcome first step. The world needs to follow this up with more -- and make China pay.

China has condemned a motion passed by Dutch lawmakers declaring that Beijing's actions towards minority groups in Xinjiang amounted to genocide. The Dutch parliament passed the motion on Thursday that "genocide is underway in China against the Uighur minority," joining countries including Canada and the United States in applying the label.

China has condemned a motion passed by Dutch lawmakers declaring that Beijing's actions towards minority groups in Xinjiang amounted to genocide. The Dutch parliament passed the motion on Thursday that "genocide is underway in China against the Uighur minority," joining countries including Canada and the United States in applying the label. Rights groups believe at least one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in the northwestern region, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin on Friday, to this end, hit back at the motion, accusing Dutch lawmakers of using Xinjiang as an excuse to "deliberately smear China and crudely interfere in China's internal affairs." "The facts show that there has never been any 'genocide' in Xinjiang," Wang told reporters at a regular briefing. The Netherlands is the first European country to accuse China of genocide, after Canadian MPs and the US State Department made similar statements. After initially denying the existence of the Xinjiang camps, China later defended them as vocational training centres aimed at reducing the appeal of Islamic extremism. Beijing said last week that its treatment of ethnic minorities there and in Tibet "stood out as shining examples of China's human rights progress." Wang on Friday said he hoped the Netherlands would "immediately stop its wrongdoings and take concrete actions to safeguard the overall situation of bilateral relations." He also said EU representatives were welcome to visit Xinjiang, and accused the EU of causing delays to the trip by demanding to meet with "criminals" sentenced for separatism. Earlier this week, in Beijing, a Chinese spokesperson held up the photograph of a victim who revealed abuses. In short, the wolf warriors called her an actor who is disseminating falsehoods. When faced with criticism at global platforms, China has deployed its diplomats to fire back. The same thing happened with Hong Kong. When China was criticised for its crackdown, it secured the support of more than 50 countries at the human rights council. Similarly, when Xinjiang was raised in 2019, 54 countries signed a statement in support of China. Now it's back in focus. The UK has called for a UN-led probe into the Uighur detention camps. And the UN human rights chief is ready to visit Xinjiang. But resolutions and criticism have little impact on China. Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch said China has increased its persecution of Uighurs with more prosecutions and longer prison sentences. Branding it a genocide is a welcome first step. The world needs to follow this up with more -- and make China pay.

China slams Dutch motion declaring genocide in Xinjiang

Beijing has harshly reacted against the Human Rights Watch (HRW) that slammed China for the inhuman treatment it metes out to the Uighur Muslims.

The rights group on Wednesday highlighted how China has dramatically increased the systemic prosecution of Muslim minorities through formal courts systems on dubious charges such as "picking quarrels".

"Despite the veneer of legality, many of those in Xinjiang's prisons are ordinary people who were convicted for going about their lives and practising their religion," HRW researcher Maya Wang was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.&nbsp;

The organisation also said that over 250,000 people in Xinjiang have been sentenced and imprisoned since 2016.&nbsp;

To this end, the Chinese foreign ministry was quick to label the report as prejudiced.

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the ministry, said, "The organisation you mentioned has always been full of prejudice on issues related to China, often spreading false statements to smear China, and their allegations should not be trusted."

Earlier on Monday, China lambasted the non-binding motion passed by the Canadian parliament that labelled PRC’s treatment of the Uighur Muslim minority as ‘genocide’.&nbsp;

This came 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;

Also, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday denounced what he called the "institutionalised repression" of China's Uighur minority.

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."

Rights groups believe that at least one million Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslim minorities are incarcerated in camps in the western region of Xinjiang.

Le Drian cited Xinjiang among several examples of "considerable regressions for human rights" in 2020.

Joseph Borrel, the foreign policy chief of the European Union, has called on China to allow meaningful access to Xinjiang.

He said, “Once again, we urge China to allow meaningful access to Xinjiang for independent observers, including high commissioner Bachelet. This is key to enable an independent, impartial and transparent assessment of the grave concerns that the international community has.”

"The EU calls on china to comply with its obligation under national and international law, to respect and to protect human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities in Xinjiang, in Tibet and in Inner Mongolia.”

In a nutshell, China may be trying to push back, but its crimes are too obvious to whitewash.

The implications could be severe.

Last we checked, calls to move the 2022 Winter Olympics away from China were growing exponentially.

Beijing cannot afford to let go of the games -- it has a whopping 3.9 billion dollar budget set for the Olympics.

But as China's global reputation is abysmally low, and as the world looks for ways to punish China, the cancellation of the Winter Olympic games could be a good start.

Beijing has harshly reacted against the Human Rights Watch (HRW) that slammed China for the inhuman treatment it metes out to the Uighur Muslims. The rights group on Wednesday highlighted how China has dramatically increased the systemic prosecution of Muslim minorities through formal courts systems on dubious charges such as "picking quarrels".

Beijing has harshly reacted against the Human Rights Watch (HRW) that slammed China for the inhuman treatment it metes out to the Uighur Muslims. The rights group on Wednesday highlighted how China has dramatically increased the systemic prosecution of Muslim minorities through formal courts systems on dubious charges such as "picking quarrels". "Despite the veneer of legality, many of those in Xinjiang's prisons are ordinary people who were convicted for going about their lives and practising their religion," HRW researcher Maya Wang was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. The organisation also said that over 250,000 people in Xinjiang have been sentenced and imprisoned since 2016. To this end, the Chinese foreign ministry was quick to label the report as prejudiced. Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the ministry, said, "The organisation you mentioned has always been full of prejudice on issues related to China, often spreading false statements to smear China, and their allegations should not be trusted." Earlier on Monday, China lambasted the non-binding motion passed by the Canadian parliament that labelled PRC’s treatment of the Uighur Muslim minority as ‘genocide’. This came 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. Also, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday denounced what he called the "institutionalised repression" of China's Uighur minority. 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." Rights groups believe that at least one million Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslim minorities are incarcerated in camps in the western region of Xinjiang. Le Drian cited Xinjiang among several examples of "considerable regressions for human rights" in 2020. Joseph Borrel, the foreign policy chief of the European Union, has called on China to allow meaningful access to Xinjiang. He said, “Once again, we urge China to allow meaningful access to Xinjiang for independent observers, including high commissioner Bachelet. This is key to enable an independent, impartial and transparent assessment of the grave concerns that the international community has.” "The EU calls on china to comply with its obligation under national and international law, to respect and to protect human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities in Xinjiang, in Tibet and in Inner Mongolia.” In a nutshell, China may be trying to push back, but its crimes are too obvious to whitewash. The implications could be severe. Last we checked, calls to move the 2022 Winter Olympics away from China were growing exponentially. Beijing cannot afford to let go of the games -- it has a whopping 3.9 billion dollar budget set for the Olympics. But as China's global reputation is abysmally low, and as the world looks for ways to punish China, the cancellation of the Winter Olympic games could be a good start.

China condemns rights group's report on Xinjiang and Uighur Muslims

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

After the United Kingdom, the European Union has now demanded access to the Xinjian region for human rights observers. EU has urged China to allow an investigation into the alleged mistreatment of Uighur minorities.

WION Fineprint: EU demands China allow 'meaningful access' to Xinjiang region

WION Dispatch: EU demands China allow 'meaningful access' to Xinjiang 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:&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

After the UK, Canda has now stepped up efforts to call out China over its treatment of Uighur Muslims living in the Xinjiang region. Canada's parliament has passed a non-binding motion on Monday to declare China's treatment of its Uighur minority population as a genocide.

WION Fineprint: Canada votes to recognize China's treatment of Uighur Muslims

Canada has joined the US in the list of countries that have described China's inhumane treatment of the Uighur minority community as a 'genocide'.

After a parliamentary vote in the country, Canada's lawmakers have approved a non-binding motion that recognises China's treatment of the Uighur community in the Xinjiang province as a genocide.

Also read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-rejects-argument-trump-poisoned-chinese-execs-extradition-case-365069">&nbsp;Canada rejects argument Trump 'poisoned' Chinese exec's extradition case</a>

While Canada's Prim Miniter Justin Trudeau and a few other senior cabinet members skipped the vote, that was held on Monday, all other Liberal members voted in favour of this motion — the only exception being Marc Garneau, who abstained on behalf of the government.

The motion "Uighurs in China have been and are being subject to genocide" passed unanimously in the Canadian House of Commons

This can also bring diplomatic problems for Trudeau who has been trying desperately to strike a balance between pushing back China to its limits and maintaining a cordial relationship with the Asian country.

However, the relationship has faced a stain of "hostage diplomacy" since the arrest of Huawei's top leader Meng Wanzhou in December 2018.

A few hours before the vote, China's ambassador to Canada called on the country criticising the vote and warning the country against interfering in the internal matters of China.

"We firmly oppose that because it runs counter to the facts. And it’s like, you know, interfering in our domestic affairs," said Cong Peiwu. "There’s nothing like genocide happening in Xinjiang at all."

Canada's Conservative party, who brought this motion in the parliament, feel this was an important step to show to the world, and to China, that Canada "will stand up for human rights and the dignity of human rights, even if it means sacrificing some economic opportunity".&nbsp;

China has rejected these allegations and claimed that its treatment of the minority community "stood out as shining examples of China's human rights progress."

Additionally,&nbsp;Foreign Minister Wang Yi later told the UN Human Rights Council via video link that "there has never been so-called genocide, forced labor or religious oppression in Xinjiang."

Canada has joined the US in the list of countries that have described China's inhumane treatment of the Uighur minority community as a 'genocide'. After a parliamentary vote in the country, Canada's lawmakers have approved a non-binding motion that recognises China's treatment of the Uighur community in the Xinjiang province as a genocide.

Canada has joined the US in the list of countries that have described China's inhumane treatment of the Uighur minority community as a 'genocide'. After a parliamentary vote in the country, Canada's lawmakers have approved a non-binding motion that recognises China's treatment of the Uighur community in the Xinjiang province as a genocide. Also read| Canada rejects argument Trump 'poisoned' Chinese exec's extradition case While Canada's Prim Miniter Justin Trudeau and a few other senior cabinet members skipped the vote, that was held on Monday, all other Liberal members voted in favour of this motion — the only exception being Marc Garneau, who abstained on behalf of the government. The motion "Uighurs in China have been and are being subject to genocide" passed unanimously in the Canadian House of Commons This can also bring diplomatic problems for Trudeau who has been trying desperately to strike a balance between pushing back China to its limits and maintaining a cordial relationship with the Asian country. However, the relationship has faced a stain of "hostage diplomacy" since the arrest of Huawei's top leader Meng Wanzhou in December 2018. A few hours before the vote, China's ambassador to Canada called on the country criticising the vote and warning the country against interfering in the internal matters of China. "We firmly oppose that because it runs counter to the facts. And it’s like, you know, interfering in our domestic affairs," said Cong Peiwu. "There’s nothing like genocide happening in Xinjiang at all." Canada's Conservative party, who brought this motion in the parliament, feel this was an important step to show to the world, and to China, that Canada "will stand up for human rights and the dignity of human rights, even if it means sacrificing some economic opportunity". China has rejected these allegations and claimed that its treatment of the minority community "stood out as shining examples of China's human rights progress." Additionally, Foreign Minister Wang Yi later told the UN Human Rights Council via video link that "there has never been so-called genocide, forced labor or religious oppression in Xinjiang."

Canada Parliament describes treatment of Uighur Muslims in China as 'genocide'

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'

Britain on Monday will call on United Nations to be granted access to the Xinjiang region of China, where excesses against Uighur Muslims have&nbsp;been reported. 
 
As part of this, the UK will urge UN to have "urgent and unfettered" access to the region to investigate instances of abuses. 
 
Britain is also set to return to the UN Human Rights Council as a voting member. As it begins its journey, Britain is expected to condemn human rights record of fellow members like China and Russia. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab's office said that the country is also expected to raise concerns about Myanmar and Belarus.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/united-kingdom-to-look-for-urgent-access-to-xinjiang-365354/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Raab is expected to speak about abuses in Xinjiang. Reports indicate that torture, forced labour, and forced sterilisation of women is undertaken in the area. His office said that he is expected to take up the cause, while alleging that the abuses are taking place "on an industrial scale".

China has faced global backlash for its mistreatment of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang. Many complexes have been set up in the region, which China claims are "vocational traíning centres" to weed out extremism and to equip the people of Xinjiang with new skills.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/chinas-oppression-of-muslims-in-xinjiang-explained-358392" hreflang="en">China's oppression of Muslims in Xinjiang, explained</a>

Many have referred to these buildings as "concentration camps". Raab will take up the issue, and as reported by CNN, will urge UN High Commissioner for Human Rights or another independent body to be given access to these camps.

According to the United Nations, at least 1 million Uighurs, along with other Muslims remain detained in Xinjiang.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/china-carrying-out-genocide-against-uighurs-in-xinjiang-us-secretary-of-state-pompeo-357819" hreflang="en">China carrying out 'genocide' against Uighurs in Xinjiang: US Secretary of State Pompeo</a>

On January 19, 2021, the United States government said that China was committing genocide in Xinjiang, which former Secretary of State Pompeo described as "the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese-party state".

China, on the other hand, claims that Muslim minorities in the region enjoy a high quality of life.

Britain on Monday will call on United Nations to be granted access to the Xinjiang region of China, where excesses against Uighur Muslims have been reported. As part of this, the UK will urge UN to have "urgent and unfettered" access to the region to investigate instances of abuses.

Britain on Monday will call on United Nations to be granted access to the Xinjiang region of China, where excesses against Uighur Muslims have been reported. As part of this, the UK will urge UN to have "urgent and unfettered" access to the region to investigate instances of abuses. Britain is also set to return to the UN Human Rights Council as a voting member. As it begins its journey, Britain is expected to condemn human rights record of fellow members like China and Russia. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab's office said that the country is also expected to raise concerns about Myanmar and Belarus. Raab is expected to speak about abuses in Xinjiang. Reports indicate that torture, forced labour, and forced sterilisation of women is undertaken in the area. His office said that he is expected to take up the cause, while alleging that the abuses are taking place "on an industrial scale". China has faced global backlash for its mistreatment of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang. Many complexes have been set up in the region, which China claims are "vocational traíning centres" to weed out extremism and to equip the people of Xinjiang with new skills. Also read: China's oppression of Muslims in Xinjiang, explained Many have referred to these buildings as "concentration camps". Raab will take up the issue, and as reported by CNN, will urge UN High Commissioner for Human Rights or another independent body to be given access to these camps. According to the United Nations, at least 1 million Uighurs, along with other Muslims remain detained in Xinjiang. Also read: China carrying out 'genocide' against Uighurs in Xinjiang: US Secretary of State Pompeo On January 19, 2021, the United States government said that China was committing genocide in Xinjiang, which former Secretary of State Pompeo described as "the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese-party state". China, on the other hand, claims that Muslim minorities in the region enjoy a high quality of life.

Britain wants UN to have 'urgent' access to Uighur camps in China's Xinjiang

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

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday that Canada and other countries are mulling labelling China's treatment of Uighurs a genocide.&nbsp;

The comments come after former US president Donald Trump last month called the treatment of Uighurs living in China's Xinjiang genocide and crimes against humanity.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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"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 was quoted as saying by news agency AFP in a news conference.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-bans-bbc-world-news-for-its-reporting-on-uighur-genocide-covid-19-363002">China bans BBC World News for its reporting on Uighur genocide, Covid-19</a>

"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."

Trudeau also said there was "no question" of the immense human rights violations reported happening in Xinjiang.&nbsp;

"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," the Canadian CM said.&nbsp;

Human rights groups say at least a million Uighurs and Turkic-speaking Muslims are held in detention camps in Xinjiang.&nbsp;

Recently, media reports quoted Uighur women who said they were raped by Chinese authorities in these camps.&nbsp;

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday that Canada and other countries are mulling labelling China's treatment of Uighurs a genocide. The comments come after former US president Donald Trump last month called the treatment of Uighurs living in China's Xinjiang genocide and crimes against humanity.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday that Canada and other countries are mulling labelling China's treatment of Uighurs a genocide. The comments come after former US president Donald Trump last month called the treatment of Uighurs living in China's Xinjiang genocide and crimes against humanity. Watch | "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 was quoted as saying by news agency AFP in a news conference. Also read | China bans BBC World News for its reporting on Uighur genocide, Covid-19 "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." Trudeau also said there was "no question" of the immense human rights violations reported happening in 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," the Canadian CM said. Human rights groups say at least a million Uighurs and Turkic-speaking Muslims are held in detention camps in Xinjiang. Recently, media reports quoted Uighur women who said they were raped by Chinese authorities in these camps.

Canada, other nations considering labeling Uighur treatment 'genocide': Trudeau

Turkey has been accused of agreeing to hand over Uighur Muslims to China in exchange for access to its COVID-19 vaccines.

In recent years, China has forcefully cracked down on Uighurs around the world, using their religion to cite a national security threat. Turkey is home to the largest number of diasporic Uighurs in the world.

Opposition legislators in Turkey are accusing Ankara’s leaders of secretly selling out Uighurs to China in exchange for coronavirus vaccines. Tens of millions of vials of promised Chinese vaccines have not yet been delivered. Meanwhile, in recent months, Turkish police have raided and detained around 50 Uighurs in deportation centres, lawyers say — a sharp uptick from last year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-erdogan-has-decided-to-extradite-uighurs-to-china-316326">Also read | Why Erdogan has decided to extradite Uighurs to China</a>

Although no hard evidence has yet emerged for a quid pro quo, these legislators and the Uighurs fear that Beijing is using the vaccines as leverage to win passage of an extradition treaty. The treaty was signed years ago but suddenly ratified by China in December, and could come before Turkish lawmakers as soon as this month.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-brushes-aside-fears-of-uighur-deportations-to-china-353427">Also read | Turkey brushes aside fears of Uighur deportations to China</a>

Uighurs speak a Turkic language and have cultural ties with Turkey that make it a favoured destination for avoiding persecution in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang. But news reports have accused Turkey of covertly returning Uighurs to China via third countries.

Rights activists say Xinjiang is home to a vast network of extrajudicial internment camps that have imprisoned at least one million people.

China says these are vocational training centres to counter extremism.

Ethnic Uighurs rallied for the ninth day running Wednesday to express their fears about the extradition treaty.

"God willing, we hope our state will not approve such a thing," said Omer Farah, a Uighur with Turkish citizenship who said his children are detained in China.

"But if it does, we are really worried. Because for China, all 50,000 Uighurs who live here are criminals."

(With inputs from agencies)

Turkey has been accused of agreeing to hand over Uighur Muslims to China in exchange for access to its COVID-19 vaccines. In recent years, China has forcefully cracked down on Uighurs around the world, using their religion to cite a national security threat.

Turkey has been accused of agreeing to hand over Uighur Muslims to China in exchange for access to its COVID-19 vaccines. In recent years, China has forcefully cracked down on Uighurs around the world, using their religion to cite a national security threat. Turkey is home to the largest number of diasporic Uighurs in the world. Opposition legislators in Turkey are accusing Ankara’s leaders of secretly selling out Uighurs to China in exchange for coronavirus vaccines. Tens of millions of vials of promised Chinese vaccines have not yet been delivered. Meanwhile, in recent months, Turkish police have raided and detained around 50 Uighurs in deportation centres, lawyers say — a sharp uptick from last year. Also read | Why Erdogan has decided to extradite Uighurs to China Although no hard evidence has yet emerged for a quid pro quo, these legislators and the Uighurs fear that Beijing is using the vaccines as leverage to win passage of an extradition treaty. The treaty was signed years ago but suddenly ratified by China in December, and could come before Turkish lawmakers as soon as this month. Also read | Turkey brushes aside fears of Uighur deportations to China Uighurs speak a Turkic language and have cultural ties with Turkey that make it a favoured destination for avoiding persecution in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang. But news reports have accused Turkey of covertly returning Uighurs to China via third countries. Rights activists say Xinjiang is home to a vast network of extrajudicial internment camps that have imprisoned at least one million people. China says these are vocational training centres to counter extremism. Ethnic Uighurs rallied for the ninth day running Wednesday to express their fears about the extradition treaty. "God willing, we hope our state will not approve such a thing," said Omer Farah, a Uighur with Turkish citizenship who said his children are detained in China. "But if it does, we are really worried. Because for China, all 50,000 Uighurs who live here are criminals." (With inputs from agencies)

Exiled Uighurs in Turkey fear sellout to China in exchange for vaccine

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has officially declared China’s treatment of Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang a “genocide” constituting crimes against humanity.

'China committed genocide against Uighur muslims', says former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

Social networking platform Twitter on Thursday said that it has&nbsp;locked the account of China's US&nbsp;embassy for a tweet that defended China's policies in the Xinjiang region after it violated the firm's policy against "dehumanisation".

The Chinese Embassy account, @ChineseEmbinUS, posted a tweet this month that said that Uighur women were no longer "baby-making machines," citing a study reported by state-backed newspaper China Daily.

Later, the same article was reposted with a different caption. "Study shows the population change in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region involves the overall improvement in population quality. An increasing number of youths chose to spend more time and energy on personal development," the post by the Chinese embassy in the US reads.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Study shows the population change in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region involves the overall improvement in population quality. An increasing number of youths chose to spend more time and energy on personal development. <a href="https://t.co/lSn5EpCJFK">https://t.co/lSn5EpCJFK</a> <a href="https://t.co/g7asRRDrd6">pic.twitter.com/g7asRRDrd6</a>
— Chinese Embassy in US (@ChineseEmbinUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChineseEmbinUS/status/1347224755485749249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Twitter's suspension of the embassy's account came a day after the Trump administration, in its final hours, accused China of committing genocide in&nbsp;Xinjiang, a finding endorsed by the incoming Biden administration.

The Biden administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Twitter's move.

"We've taken action on the Tweet you referenced for violating our policy against dehumanization, where it states: We prohibit the dehumanisation of a group of people based on their religion, caste, age, disability, serious disease, national origin, race, or ethnicity," a Twitter spokesperson said on Thursday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-sanctions-pompeo-trump-officials-for-violating-sovereignty-358146" hreflang="en">China sanctions Pompeo, Trump officials for violating 'sovereignty'</a>

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a e-mailed request for comment. Twitter is blocked in China but is an increasingly favoured platform by China's diplomats and state media.

China has repeatedly rejected accusations of abuse in its&nbsp;Xinjiang&nbsp;region, where a United Nations panel has said at least 1 million Uighurs and other Muslims had been detained in camps.

Last year, a report by German researcher Adrian Zenz published by the Washington-based Jamestown Foundation think tank accused China of using forced sterilization, forced abortion and coercive family planning against minority Muslims. The Chinese foreign ministry said the allegations were groundless and false.

Twitter's move also follows the removal of the account of former U.S. president Donald Trump, which had 88 million followers, citing the risk of violence after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol this month.

Twitter had locked Trump's account, asking for deletion of some tweets, before restoring it and then removing it altogether after the former president violated the platform's policies again.

&nbsp;

Social networking platform Twitter on Thursday said that it has locked the account of China's US embassy for a tweet that defended China's policies in the Xinjiang region after it violated the firm's policy against "dehumanisation".

Social networking platform Twitter on Thursday said that it has locked the account of China's US embassy for a tweet that defended China's policies in the Xinjiang region after it violated the firm's policy against "dehumanisation". The Chinese Embassy account, @ChineseEmbinUS, posted a tweet this month that said that Uighur women were no longer "baby-making machines," citing a study reported by state-backed newspaper China Daily. Later, the same article was reposted with a different caption. "Study shows the population change in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region involves the overall improvement in population quality. An increasing number of youths chose to spend more time and energy on personal development," the post by the Chinese embassy in the US reads. Study shows the population change in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region involves the overall improvement in population quality. An increasing number of youths chose to spend more time and energy on personal development. https://t.co/lSn5EpCJFK pic.twitter.com/g7asRRDrd6 — Chinese Embassy in US (@ChineseEmbinUS) January 7, 2021 × Twitter's suspension of the embassy's account came a day after the Trump administration, in its final hours, accused China of committing genocide in Xinjiang, a finding endorsed by the incoming Biden administration. The Biden administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Twitter's move. "We've taken action on the Tweet you referenced for violating our policy against dehumanization, where it states: We prohibit the dehumanisation of a group of people based on their religion, caste, age, disability, serious disease, national origin, race, or ethnicity," a Twitter spokesperson said on Thursday. Also read: China sanctions Pompeo, Trump officials for violating 'sovereignty' The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a e-mailed request for comment. Twitter is blocked in China but is an increasingly favoured platform by China's diplomats and state media. China has repeatedly rejected accusations of abuse in its Xinjiang region, where a United Nations panel has said at least 1 million Uighurs and other Muslims had been detained in camps. Last year, a report by German researcher Adrian Zenz published by the Washington-based Jamestown Foundation think tank accused China of using forced sterilization, forced abortion and coercive family planning against minority Muslims. The Chinese foreign ministry said the allegations were groundless and false. Twitter's move also follows the removal of the account of former U.S. president Donald Trump, which had 88 million followers, citing the risk of violence after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol this month. Twitter had locked Trump's account, asking for deletion of some tweets, before restoring it and then removing it altogether after the former president violated the platform's policies again.

Twitter locks account of China's US embassy over Xinjiang-related tweet

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that China is committing genocide against the Uighurs and other mostly Muslim people, dramatically raising pressure on his last full day in office. 
 
"I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese party-state," Pompeo said in a statement. 
 
"We will not remain silent. If the Chinese Communist Party is allowed to commit genocide and crimes against humanity against its own people, imagine what it will be emboldened to do to the free world, in the not-so-distant future," said Pompeo, whose vociferous criticism of Beijing has been a hallmark of his tenure. 
 
Pompeo urged all international bodies including courts to take up cases against China's treatment of the Uighurs and voiced confidence that the United States would keep raising pressure.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/turkey-accused-of-trading-uighurs-for-chinese-covid-19-vaccine-357132" hreflang="en">Turkey accused of trading Uighurs for Chinese covid-19 vaccine</a> 
 
Rights groups believe that at least one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic-speaking Muslims are incarcerated in camps in the western region of Xinjiang. 
 
Witnesses and activists say that 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, forbidden by their faith. 
 
China denies wrongdoing and contends that its camps are vocational training centers meant to reduce the allure of Islamic extremism in the wake of attacks.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/chinas-huawei-backtracks-after-filing-for-patent-of-ai-software-that-could-recognise-uighurs-356738" hreflang="en">China’s Huawei backtracks after filing for patent of AI software that could recognise Uighurs</a> 
 
Unlike many decisions by Pompeo seen as boxing in President-elect Joe Biden, the genocide declaration could be welcomed by the new administration. 
 
Biden himself has called for a stronger focus on human rights, with his campaign describing the treatment of the Uighurs as genocide, meaning that his administration will now face less pressure for a formal declaration once in office.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that China is committing genocide against the Uighurs and other mostly Muslim people, dramatically raising pressure on his last full day in office.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that China is committing genocide against the Uighurs and other mostly Muslim people, dramatically raising pressure on his last full day in office. "I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese party-state," Pompeo said in a statement. "We will not remain silent. If the Chinese Communist Party is allowed to commit genocide and crimes against humanity against its own people, imagine what it will be emboldened to do to the free world, in the not-so-distant future," said Pompeo, whose vociferous criticism of Beijing has been a hallmark of his tenure. Pompeo urged all international bodies including courts to take up cases against China's treatment of the Uighurs and voiced confidence that the United States would keep raising pressure. Also read: Turkey accused of trading Uighurs for Chinese covid-19 vaccine Rights groups believe that at least one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic-speaking Muslims are incarcerated in camps in the western region of Xinjiang. Witnesses and activists say that 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, forbidden by their faith. China denies wrongdoing and contends that its camps are vocational training centers meant to reduce the allure of Islamic extremism in the wake of attacks. Also read: China’s Huawei backtracks after filing for patent of AI software that could recognise Uighurs Unlike many decisions by Pompeo seen as boxing in President-elect Joe Biden, the genocide declaration could be welcomed by the new administration. Biden himself has called for a stronger focus on human rights, with his campaign describing the treatment of the Uighurs as genocide, meaning that his administration will now face less pressure for a formal declaration once in office.

China carrying out 'genocide' against Uighurs in Xinjiang: US Secretary of State Pompeo

Turkey has begun countrywide COVID-19 vaccinations on Thursday shortly after China-produced vaccine Sinovac was granted emergency authorisation.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca received a shot on live television, followed by members of Turkey's advisory science council.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan received the first dose of Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac on Thursday. More than 250,000 Turkish people have been vaccinated in Turkey so far.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-erdogan-has-decided-to-extradite-uighurs-to-china-316326">Also read | Why Erdogan has decided to extradite Uighurs to China</a>

But Turkey has been accused of agreeing to hand over Uighur Muslims to China in exchange for access to its COVID-19 vaccines.

The allegations stem from the timing of two events in December: the long-delayed arrival of Turkey's order of vaccines from the Chinese firm Sinovac and Beijing's abrupt move to ratify a 2017 extradition deal with Ankara. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-brushes-aside-fears-of-uighur-deportations-to-china-353427">Also read | Turkey brushes aside fears of Uighur deportations to China</a>

In December 2020, Turkey&nbsp;had brushed aside fears that a new extradition treaty with China would result in Ankara deporting Muslim Uighurs en masse.

Earlier, China announced the ratification of an extradition treaty with Turkey that human rights groups warn could endanger Uighur families and activists fleeing persecution by Chinese authorities if it is adopted by Ankara.

In recent years, China has forcefully cracked down on Uighurs around the world, using their religion to cite a national security threat.

Uighurs around the world have said to media that they were too afraid to contact their relatives in Xinjiang for fear of Chinese retribution against their family.&nbsp;

Turkey is home to some 50,000 Uighurs, the largest Uighur diaspora group in the world.

Turkey signed a contract for 50 million doses of Sinovac Biotech's vaccine, which should arrive by the end of February. It has so far received 3 million doses as its first batch, but only after three delays totalling around three weeks.

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)

Turkey has begun countrywide COVID-19 vaccinations on Thursday shortly after China-produced vaccine Sinovac was granted emergency authorisation. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca received a shot on live television, followed by members of Turkey's advisory science council.

Turkey has begun countrywide COVID-19 vaccinations on Thursday shortly after China-produced vaccine Sinovac was granted emergency authorisation. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca received a shot on live television, followed by members of Turkey's advisory science council. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan received the first dose of Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac on Thursday. More than 250,000 Turkish people have been vaccinated in Turkey so far. Also read | Why Erdogan has decided to extradite Uighurs to China But Turkey has been accused of agreeing to hand over Uighur Muslims to China in exchange for access to its COVID-19 vaccines. The allegations stem from the timing of two events in December: the long-delayed arrival of Turkey's order of vaccines from the Chinese firm Sinovac and Beijing's abrupt move to ratify a 2017 extradition deal with Ankara. Also read | Turkey brushes aside fears of Uighur deportations to China In December 2020, Turkey had brushed aside fears that a new extradition treaty with China would result in Ankara deporting Muslim Uighurs en masse. Earlier, China announced the ratification of an extradition treaty with Turkey that human rights groups warn could endanger Uighur families and activists fleeing persecution by Chinese authorities if it is adopted by Ankara. In recent years, China has forcefully cracked down on Uighurs around the world, using their religion to cite a national security threat. Uighurs around the world have said to media that they were too afraid to contact their relatives in Xinjiang for fear of Chinese retribution against their family. Turkey is home to some 50,000 Uighurs, the largest Uighur diaspora group in the world. Turkey signed a contract for 50 million doses of Sinovac Biotech's vaccine, which should arrive by the end of February. It has so far received 3 million doses as its first batch, but only after three delays totalling around three weeks. 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)

Turkey accused of trading Uighurs for Chinese covid-19 vaccine

Britain accused China of human rights violations and abuse against its Uighur minority and announced new rules to ban imports of goods suspected of being made using forced labour.

UK condemn Chinese abuse against Uighur minority

China had an "appalling year" in terms of human rights in 2020, said Human Rights Watch on Wednesday. 
 
The group took into account the crackdown on free speech in Hong Kong with new security laws, the persecution of Uighur Muslims, and attempts at silencing people that were vigorously reporting on the pandemic.

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Just last week, a court in China sentenced a citizen-journalist to four years in jail after he reported from Wuhan, the original epicentre of the virus where it initially began. Many others who attempted to report on the pandemic have since then disappeared.

"To crack down on whistleblowers and citizen-journalists at this particular moment ... helps highlight to the rest of the world what the consequences of violations inside China can be," Sophie Richardson, Human Rights Watch (HRW) for China claimed after releasing its yearly report.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/china-denies-forceful-use-of-birth-control-measures-on-uighur-women-355991" hreflang="en">China denies forceful use of birth control measures on Uighur women</a> 
 
Earlier, HRW's Executive Director Kenneth Roth had told Reuters that China is the biggest threat to human rights around the world. Roth added that President Xi Jinping had "embarked on the most intense repression" in China since 1989 when the Tiananmen Square crackdown took place.

As part of the national security law which was introduced in Hong Kong, 53 pro-democracy activists have been arrested in raids over the last week.&nbsp;

In addition, Beijing stands accused of the persecution and forced labour of Uighurs in the western region of Xinjiang.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/twitter-removes-chinese-embassys-post-claiming-uighur-women-not-forcefully-sterilised-355755" hreflang="en">Twitter removes Chinese embassy's post claiming Uighur women not forcefully sterilised</a>

Richardson noted how Uighurs' plight remains largely ignored on the global stage, and how it was similar to what Rohingya Muslims were undergoing in Myanmar. 
 
She added how the European Union's investment pact with China remains problematic, after a year of China "publicly shredding" its commitments in terms of human rights. 
 
"Putting a dent in the Chinese government's sense of impunity for serious human rights violations is a real priority, we think, for governments and for institutions like the UN," she said, while adding that criticism against China is now growing in the international community.

China had an "appalling year" in terms of human rights in 2020, said Human Rights Watch on Wednesday. The group took into account the crackdown on free speech in Hong Kong with new security laws, the persecution of Uighur Muslims, and attempts at silencing people that were vigorously reporting on the pandemic.

China had an "appalling year" in terms of human rights in 2020, said Human Rights Watch on Wednesday. The group took into account the crackdown on free speech in Hong Kong with new security laws, the persecution of Uighur Muslims, and attempts at silencing people that were vigorously reporting on the pandemic. Just last week, a court in China sentenced a citizen-journalist to four years in jail after he reported from Wuhan, the original epicentre of the virus where it initially began. Many others who attempted to report on the pandemic have since then disappeared. "To crack down on whistleblowers and citizen-journalists at this particular moment ... helps highlight to the rest of the world what the consequences of violations inside China can be," Sophie Richardson, Human Rights Watch (HRW) for China claimed after releasing its yearly report. Also read: China denies forceful use of birth control measures on Uighur women Earlier, HRW's Executive Director Kenneth Roth had told Reuters that China is the biggest threat to human rights around the world. Roth added that President Xi Jinping had "embarked on the most intense repression" in China since 1989 when the Tiananmen Square crackdown took place. As part of the national security law which was introduced in Hong Kong, 53 pro-democracy activists have been arrested in raids over the last week. In addition, Beijing stands accused of the persecution and forced labour of Uighurs in the western region of Xinjiang. Also read: Twitter removes Chinese embassy's post claiming Uighur women not forcefully sterilised Richardson noted how Uighurs' plight remains largely ignored on the global stage, and how it was similar to what Rohingya Muslims were undergoing in Myanmar. She added how the European Union's investment pact with China remains problematic, after a year of China "publicly shredding" its commitments in terms of human rights. "Putting a dent in the Chinese government's sense of impunity for serious human rights violations is a real priority, we think, for governments and for institutions like the UN," she said, while adding that criticism against China is now growing in the international community.

For China, 2020 was an 'appalling year' of violations: Human Rights Watch

In a flat, arid expanse of China’s far west Xinjiang region, a solar technology company welcomed laborers from a rural area 650 miles away, preparing to put them to work at GCL-Poly, the world’s second-largest maker of polysilicon.

The workers, members of the region’s Uighur minority, attended a class in etiquette as they prepared for their new lives in the solar industry, which prides itself as a model of clean, responsible growth. GCL-Poly promoted the housing and training it offered its new recruits in photographs and statements to the local news media.

But researchers and human rights experts say those positive images may conceal a more troubling reality — the persecution of one of China’s most vulnerable ethnic groups. According to a report by the consultancy Horizon Advisory, Xinjiang’s rising solar energy technology sector is connected to a broad program of assigned labor in China, including methods that fit well-documented patterns of forced labor.

Major solar companies including GCL-Poly, East Hope Group, Daqo New Energy, Xinte Energy and Jinko Solar are named in the report as bearing signs of using some forced labor, according to Horizon Advisory, which specializes in Chinese-language research. Although many details remain unclear, those signs include accepting workers transferred with the help of the Chinese government from certain parts of Xinjiang, and having laborers undergo “military-style” training that may be aimed at instilling loyalty to China and the Communist Party.

The Chinese government disputes the presence of any forced labor in its supply chains, arguing that employment is voluntary. The companies named in the report either did not respond to requests for comment or denied any role in forced labor.

In a statement, a representative for the Chinese Embassy in Washington called forced labor in Xinjiang “a rumor created by a few anti-China media and organizations,” adding that all workers in Xinjiang enter into contracts in accordance with Chinese labor law. “There is no such thing as ‘forced labor,’” the representative said.

The report adds to a growing list of companies that have been accused of relying on coerced labor from Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in China, either in their own factories or those of their suppliers.

The United States and other governments have become increasingly vocal about forced labor in Xinjiang, including naming and shaming major corporations that operate in the region. The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on dozens of companies and individuals for their role in Xinjiang, including banning some exports from the region, which is also a major producer of cotton. On Dec. 2, it banned imports made with cotton produced by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a paramilitary group that U.S. officials say uses forced labor.

Congress is also considering sweeping legislation that would ban all products with materials from Xinjiang unless companies certify that the goods are made without forced labor&lt;strong&gt;.&lt;/strong&gt;

John Ullyot, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said that China’s campaign of repression in Xinjiang involved “state-sponsored forced labor” and that the United States would “not be complicit in modern-day slavery.”

“The administration has taken unprecedented actions to prevent China from profiting off of its horrific human rights abuses,” he said.

Together, the solar companies named in the report supply more than a third of the world’s polysilicon, which is refined from rock and turned into the solar panels that end up on rooftops and utility energy projects, including those in the United States and Europe.

Government announcements and news reports indicate that solar companies often take in assigned workers in batches of dozens or fewer, suggesting that the transfers are a small part of their overall workforce. Still, the assertions from Horizon Advisory imply that much of the global solar supply chain may be tainted by an association with forced labor. Such charges could hurt its progressive image and risk product bans from Washington.

GCL-Poly, Daqo New Energy, Xinte Energy and East Hope Group did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Ian McCaleb, a spokesman for Jinko Solar, said the company “strongly condemns the use of forced labor and does not engage in it in its hiring practices or workplace operations.” He said that it had reviewed the claims in the Horizon report and “found that they do not demonstrate forced labor in our facilities.”

China carries out a vast program of detention and surveillance of Uighurs, Kazakhs and other minorities in Xinjiang. A million or more minorities may have been detained in indoctrination camps and other sites where they are forced to renounce religious bonds, and risk torture, assault and psychological trauma, Uighurs abroad and human rights groups say.

The Xinjiang government has promoted the labor transfer programs in parallel with the re-education camps, efforts that have ramped up drastically under the current leader, Xi Jinping. The government has uprooted many from farms to work in factories and cities, in the belief that steady, supervised work can pull minorities out of poverty and break down cultural barriers. Workers may have little choice but to obey local officials who oversee their move to distant towns and industrial zones to fulfill government-set quotas.

The growing scrutiny of the region has already prompted changes among some companies whose supply chains are entangled in these programs. Many textile and apparel companies that use cotton or yarn from Xinjiang have severed ties, including Patagonia, Marks and Spencer and H&amp;amp;M.

The solar sector could face similar pressure. The industry has deep ties to Xinjiang, which accounts for about 40% of global polysilicon production, said Jenny Chase, the head of solar analysis at BloombergNEF. Xinjiang’s polysilicon production increased rapidly over the past decade, mostly because of cheap electricity from local coal plants and other government support, Chase said.

That expansion has helped Chinese companies dominate foreign competitors, including in the United States. China produced 82% of global polysilicon in 2020, up from 26% in 2010, according to data from IHS Markit, while the U.S. share of production shrunk to 5% from 35%.

“I am concerned that forced labor may have been used in Xinjiang,” said Francine Sullivan, the vice president for business development at REC Silicon, a Norwegian polysilicon manufacturer with operations in the United States. The company shut a facility in Washington state, despite surging overall U.S. demand.

Xinjiang is known for low safety and environmental standards, Sullivan said, and forced labor “may be just part of the incentive package.”

Xiaojing Sun, a senior research analyst at Wood Mackenzie, said solar companies were starting to investigate their exposure to Xinjiang and reconfigure their supply chains to avoid the region if possible.

In a note to investors in October, analysts at Roth Capital Partners said the solar sector faced a “heightened risk of disruption” because of its ties to Xinjiang.

“Investors are getting nervous,” Sun said.

The Solar Energy Industries Association, the largest industry association in the United States, has called human rights abuses in Xinjiang “reprehensible” and strongly encouraged companies “to immediately move their supply chains out of the region.”

Since unfettered on-the-ground access to Xinjiang for foreign journalists and researchers is virtually impossible, the Horizon Advisory researchers do not provide direct testimony of forced labor. Instead, they present signs of possible coercion from Chinese-language documents and news reports, such as programs that may use high-pressure recruitment techniques, indoctrinate workers with patriotic or military education, or restrict their movement.

The report documents GCL-Poly accepting “surplus labor” from a rural region of Xinjiang last year. In 2018, according to an article on China Energy Net, a local news site, one of GCL-Poly’s subsidiaries also accepted more than 60 such workers.

A local subsidiary of Jinko Solar, Xinjiang Jinko Energy Co., received state subsidies for employing local Xinjiang labor, including at least 40 “poor workers from southern Xinjiang” in May, according to a local government announcement from July 2020 cited by Horizon Advisory.

On its public WeChat account, East Hope Group said that it had “responded to the national Western Development Call and actively participated in the development and construction of Xinjiang,” including constructing a polysilicon project in Changji prefecture in 2016, the Horizon report said.

That same year, according to a Chinese news report cited by Horizon, Xinjiang’s Yarkand County signed a “labor export cooperation framework agreement” with a subsidiary named East Hope Group Xinjiang Aluminum Co.

Another subsidiary of East Hope, Xinjiang East Hope Nonferrous Metals Co., “accepted 235 ethnic minority employees from southern Xinjiang,” who were given training to make up for “low educational qualifications, weak national language skills and insufficient job skills,” according to a report on the company’s website.

According to Horizon Advisory, several solar companies also have ties to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, which has been penalized by the Trump administration. In its 2018 financial report, Daqo New Energy said its Xinjiang facilities benefited from a lower cost of electricity because the regional grid is operated by a division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

Amy Lehr, the director of the Human Rights Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that work programs that draw on Xinjiang minorities and offer companies subsidies for employing them are a “red flag” for forced labor. These programs may restrict workers from quitting, traveling or participating in religious services, pay less than minimum wage, and involve harsh or unsafe work conditions, as well as the threat of detention, according to Lehr’s research.

“The concern is that there is a potential for coercion, because of the level of surveillance and fearfulness,” Lehr said. Companies that source products from the region have “no way of knowing that you’re not being connected to forced labor,” she said.

Nathan Picarsic, a founder of Horizon Advisory, said what the firm had documented was likely “just the tip of the iceberg.” If Americans are buying solar panels made with materials from these Chinese companies, he said, “I would say you are complicit in perpetuating this Chinese industrial policy that suppresses and disenfranchises human beings.”

In a flat, arid expanse of China’s far west Xinjiang region, a solar technology company welcomed laborers from a rural area 650 miles away, preparing to put them to work at GCL-Poly, the world’s second-largest maker of polysilicon.

In a flat, arid expanse of China’s far west Xinjiang region, a solar technology company welcomed laborers from a rural area 650 miles away, preparing to put them to work at GCL-Poly, the world’s second-largest maker of polysilicon. The workers, members of the region’s Uighur minority, attended a class in etiquette as they prepared for their new lives in the solar industry, which prides itself as a model of clean, responsible growth. GCL-Poly promoted the housing and training it offered its new recruits in photographs and statements to the local news media. But researchers and human rights experts say those positive images may conceal a more troubling reality — the persecution of one of China’s most vulnerable ethnic groups. According to a report by the consultancy Horizon Advisory, Xinjiang’s rising solar energy technology sector is connected to a broad program of assigned labor in China, including methods that fit well-documented patterns of forced labor. Major solar companies including GCL-Poly, East Hope Group, Daqo New Energy, Xinte Energy and Jinko Solar are named in the report as bearing signs of using some forced labor, according to Horizon Advisory, which specializes in Chinese-language research. Although many details remain unclear, those signs include accepting workers transferred with the help of the Chinese government from certain parts of Xinjiang, and having laborers undergo “military-style” training that may be aimed at instilling loyalty to China and the Communist Party. The Chinese government disputes the presence of any forced labor in its supply chains, arguing that employment is voluntary. The companies named in the report either did not respond to requests for comment or denied any role in forced labor. In a statement, a representative for the Chinese Embassy in Washington called forced labor in Xinjiang “a rumor created by a few anti-China media and organizations,” adding that all workers in Xinjiang enter into contracts in accordance with Chinese labor law. “There is no such thing as ‘forced labor,’” the representative said. The report adds to a growing list of companies that have been accused of relying on coerced labor from Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in China, either in their own factories or those of their suppliers. The United States and other governments have become increasingly vocal about forced labor in Xinjiang, including naming and shaming major corporations that operate in the region. The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on dozens of companies and individuals for their role in Xinjiang, including banning some exports from the region, which is also a major producer of cotton. On Dec. 2, it banned imports made with cotton produced by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a paramilitary group that U.S. officials say uses forced labor. Congress is also considering sweeping legislation that would ban all products with materials from Xinjiang unless companies certify that the goods are made without forced labor. John Ullyot, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said that China’s campaign of repression in Xinjiang involved “state-sponsored forced labor” and that the United States would “not be complicit in modern-day slavery.” “The administration has taken unprecedented actions to prevent China from profiting off of its horrific human rights abuses,” he said. Together, the solar companies named in the report supply more than a third of the world’s polysilicon, which is refined from rock and turned into the solar panels that end up on rooftops and utility energy projects, including those in the United States and Europe. Government announcements and news reports indicate that solar companies often take in assigned workers in batches of dozens or fewer, suggesting that the transfers are a small part of their overall workforce. Still, the assertions from Horizon Advisory imply that much of the global solar supply chain may be tainted by an association with forced labor. Such charges could hurt its progressive image and risk product bans from Washington. GCL-Poly, Daqo New Energy, Xinte Energy and East Hope Group did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Ian McCaleb, a spokesman for Jinko Solar, said the company “strongly condemns the use of forced labor and does not engage in it in its hiring practices or workplace operations.” He said that it had reviewed the claims in the Horizon report and “found that they do not demonstrate forced labor in our facilities.” China carries out a vast program of detention and surveillance of Uighurs, Kazakhs and other minorities in Xinjiang. A million or more minorities may have been detained in indoctrination camps and other sites where they are forced to renounce religious bonds, and risk torture, assault and psychological trauma, Uighurs abroad and human rights groups say. The Xinjiang government has promoted the labor transfer programs in parallel with the re-education camps, efforts that have ramped up drastically under the current leader, Xi Jinping. The government has uprooted many from farms to work in factories and cities, in the belief that steady, supervised work can pull minorities out of poverty and break down cultural barriers. Workers may have little choice but to obey local officials who oversee their move to distant towns and industrial zones to fulfill government-set quotas. The growing scrutiny of the region has already prompted changes among some companies whose supply chains are entangled in these programs. Many textile and apparel companies that use cotton or yarn from Xinjiang have severed ties, including Patagonia, Marks and Spencer and H&amp;M. The solar sector could face similar pressure. The industry has deep ties to Xinjiang, which accounts for about 40% of global polysilicon production, said Jenny Chase, the head of solar analysis at BloombergNEF. Xinjiang’s polysilicon production increased rapidly over the past decade, mostly because of cheap electricity from local coal plants and other government support, Chase said. That expansion has helped Chinese companies dominate foreign competitors, including in the United States. China produced 82% of global polysilicon in 2020, up from 26% in 2010, according to data from IHS Markit, while the U.S. share of production shrunk to 5% from 35%. “I am concerned that forced labor may have been used in Xinjiang,” said Francine Sullivan, the vice president for business development at REC Silicon, a Norwegian polysilicon manufacturer with operations in the United States. The company shut a facility in Washington state, despite surging overall U.S. demand. Xinjiang is known for low safety and environmental standards, Sullivan said, and forced labor “may be just part of the incentive package.” Xiaojing Sun, a senior research analyst at Wood Mackenzie, said solar companies were starting to investigate their exposure to Xinjiang and reconfigure their supply chains to avoid the region if possible. In a note to investors in October, analysts at Roth Capital Partners said the solar sector faced a “heightened risk of disruption” because of its ties to Xinjiang. “Investors are getting nervous,” Sun said. The Solar Energy Industries Association, the largest industry association in the United States, has called human rights abuses in Xinjiang “reprehensible” and strongly encouraged companies “to immediately move their supply chains out of the region.” Since unfettered on-the-ground access to Xinjiang for foreign journalists and researchers is virtually impossible, the Horizon Advisory researchers do not provide direct testimony of forced labor. Instead, they present signs of possible coercion from Chinese-language documents and news reports, such as programs that may use high-pressure recruitment techniques, indoctrinate workers with patriotic or military education, or restrict their movement. The report documents GCL-Poly accepting “surplus labor” from a rural region of Xinjiang last year. In 2018, according to an article on China Energy Net, a local news site, one of GCL-Poly’s subsidiaries also accepted more than 60 such workers. A local subsidiary of Jinko Solar, Xinjiang Jinko Energy Co., received state subsidies for employing local Xinjiang labor, including at least 40 “poor workers from southern Xinjiang” in May, according to a local government announcement from July 2020 cited by Horizon Advisory. On its public WeChat account, East Hope Group said that it had “responded to the national Western Development Call and actively participated in the development and construction of Xinjiang,” including constructing a polysilicon project in Changji prefecture in 2016, the Horizon report said. That same year, according to a Chinese news report cited by Horizon, Xinjiang’s Yarkand County signed a “labor export cooperation framework agreement” with a subsidiary named East Hope Group Xinjiang Aluminum Co. Another subsidiary of East Hope, Xinjiang East Hope Nonferrous Metals Co., “accepted 235 ethnic minority employees from southern Xinjiang,” who were given training to make up for “low educational qualifications, weak national language skills and insufficient job skills,” according to a report on the company’s website. According to Horizon Advisory, several solar companies also have ties to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, which has been penalized by the Trump administration. In its 2018 financial report, Daqo New Energy said its Xinjiang facilities benefited from a lower cost of electricity because the regional grid is operated by a division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Amy Lehr, the director of the Human Rights Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that work programs that draw on Xinjiang minorities and offer companies subsidies for employing them are a “red flag” for forced labor. These programs may restrict workers from quitting, traveling or participating in religious services, pay less than minimum wage, and involve harsh or unsafe work conditions, as well as the threat of detention, according to Lehr’s research. “The concern is that there is a potential for coercion, because of the level of surveillance and fearfulness,” Lehr said. Companies that source products from the region have “no way of knowing that you’re not being connected to forced labor,” she said. Nathan Picarsic, a founder of Horizon Advisory, said what the firm had documented was likely “just the tip of the iceberg.” If Americans are buying solar panels made with materials from these Chinese companies, he said, “I would say you are complicit in perpetuating this Chinese industrial policy that suppresses and disenfranchises human beings.”

Chinese solar companies tied to use of forced labor

China on Thursday urged US politicians to stop using issues in its Xinjiang region to interfere in its affairs &nbsp;-- in the aftermath of the United States demanding the release of a Uighur doctor.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin made the comments at a regular news conference in Beijing.

The doctor's family said she was sentenced to 20 years of jail in China because of her family members' human rights activism in the United States.

The daughter of Gulshan Abbas told a briefing organised with the bipartisan US Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) that the family had recently learned her mother received the sentence in March last year on terrorism-related charges after disappearing in September 2018.

The daughter, Ziba Murat, called the charges “preposterous.” Gulshan’s sister, Rushan Abbas, said they stemmed from activism by her and her brother Rishat Abbas, both of whom are based in the United States.

In a tweet, the US assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, Robert Destro, said Gulshan Abbas must be released.

Ziba Murat said she could not reveal the source of the information on the sentencing to protect their identity.

UN experts and advocates say at least a million ethnic Uighurs have been detained at some point in camps in China's Xinjiang region.

China calls the heavily guarded centers educational and vocational institutes, and says all those who attended have “graduated” and gone home. Access to the camps is restricted and it is not possible to independently verify whether all have closed.

China on Thursday urged US politicians to stop using issues in its Xinjiang region to interfere in its affairs -- in the aftermath of the United States demanding the release of a Uighur doctor.

China on Thursday urged US politicians to stop using issues in its Xinjiang region to interfere in its affairs -- in the aftermath of the United States demanding the release of a Uighur doctor. Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin made the comments at a regular news conference in Beijing. The doctor's family said she was sentenced to 20 years of jail in China because of her family members' human rights activism in the United States. The daughter of Gulshan Abbas told a briefing organised with the bipartisan US Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) that the family had recently learned her mother received the sentence in March last year on terrorism-related charges after disappearing in September 2018. The daughter, Ziba Murat, called the charges “preposterous.” Gulshan’s sister, Rushan Abbas, said they stemmed from activism by her and her brother Rishat Abbas, both of whom are based in the United States. In a tweet, the US assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, Robert Destro, said Gulshan Abbas must be released. Ziba Murat said she could not reveal the source of the information on the sentencing to protect their identity. UN experts and advocates say at least a million ethnic Uighurs have been detained at some point in camps in China's Xinjiang region. China calls the heavily guarded centers educational and vocational institutes, and says all those who attended have “graduated” and gone home. Access to the camps is restricted and it is not possible to independently verify whether all have closed.

China tells US politicians to stop using Xinjiang to interfere in its affairs

Turkey on Wednesday brushed aside fears that a new extradition treaty with China would result in Ankara deporting Muslim Uighurs en masse.

Earlier, China&nbsp;announced the ratification of an extradition treaty with Turkey&nbsp;that human rights groups warn could endanger Uighur families and activists fleeing persecution by Chinese authorities if it is adopted by Ankara.

The treaty, first signed in 2017, was formalised on the weekend at the national people’s congress, with state media saying it would be utilised for counter-psychological warfare purposes.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-ratifies-extradition-treaty-pressure-on-turkey-to-protect-uighurs-353170" hreflang="en">China ratifies extradition treaty; pressure on Turkey to protect Uighurs</a>

Confronting solid resistance inside its parliament, Turkey's administration has not yet confirmed the arrangement, and critics have asked the public authority to desert it and keep the settlement from "turning into an instrument of oppression".&nbsp;

Turkey has linguistic and cultural ties with the Uighurs and Ankara has for quite some time been one of the primary safeguards of their motivation on the worldwide stage, however lately Turkey's public demonstration of help has faded.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-and-the-european-union-poised-to-sign-major-investment-deal-353241/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

About 20 Uighurs with Turkish citizenship picketed China's consulate in Istanbul after the Chinese parliament ratified the 2017 treaty on Saturday.

Ankara has not yet ratified the agreement, but its approval in Beijing has put Turkey's estimated 50,000-strong Uighur community on edge.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu did not say when Turkey's parliament might debate the agreement. However,&nbsp;its approval would not mean "Turkey will release Uighurs to China".

"Until now, there have been requests for returns from China related to Uighurs in Turkey. And you know Turkey hasn't taken steps like this," Cavusoglu told reporters in Ankara.

It would be "wrong and unfair to say it's a deal for the extradition of Uighurs. We are more sensitive to such issues than others," he said.

Uighurs speak a Turkic language and have cultural ties with Turkey that make it a favoured destination for avoiding persecution in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang. But news reports have accused Turkey of covertly returning Uighurs to China via third countries.

Rights activists say Xinjiang is home to a vast network of extrajudicial internment camps that have imprisoned at least one million people.

China says these are vocational training centres to counter extremism.

Ethnic Uighurs rallied for the ninth day running Wednesday to express their fears about the extradition treaty.

"God willing, we hope our state will not approve such a thing," said Omer Farah, a Uighur with Turkish citizenship who said his children are detained in China.

"But if it does, we are really worried. Because for China, all 50,000 Uighurs who live here are criminals."

Turkey on Wednesday brushed aside fears that a new extradition treaty with China would result in Ankara deporting Muslim Uighurs en masse. Earlier, China announced the ratification of an extradition treaty with Turkey that human rights groups warn could endanger Uighur families and activists fleeing persecution by Chinese authorities if it is adopted by Ankara.

Turkey on Wednesday brushed aside fears that a new extradition treaty with China would result in Ankara deporting Muslim Uighurs en masse. Earlier, China announced the ratification of an extradition treaty with Turkey that human rights groups warn could endanger Uighur families and activists fleeing persecution by Chinese authorities if it is adopted by Ankara. The treaty, first signed in 2017, was formalised on the weekend at the national people’s congress, with state media saying it would be utilised for counter-psychological warfare purposes. Also read: China ratifies extradition treaty; pressure on Turkey to protect Uighurs Confronting solid resistance inside its parliament, Turkey's administration has not yet confirmed the arrangement, and critics have asked the public authority to desert it and keep the settlement from "turning into an instrument of oppression". Turkey has linguistic and cultural ties with the Uighurs and Ankara has for quite some time been one of the primary safeguards of their motivation on the worldwide stage, however lately Turkey's public demonstration of help has faded. About 20 Uighurs with Turkish citizenship picketed China's consulate in Istanbul after the Chinese parliament ratified the 2017 treaty on Saturday. Ankara has not yet ratified the agreement, but its approval in Beijing has put Turkey's estimated 50,000-strong Uighur community on edge. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu did not say when Turkey's parliament might debate the agreement. However, its approval would not mean "Turkey will release Uighurs to China". "Until now, there have been requests for returns from China related to Uighurs in Turkey. And you know Turkey hasn't taken steps like this," Cavusoglu told reporters in Ankara. It would be "wrong and unfair to say it's a deal for the extradition of Uighurs. We are more sensitive to such issues than others," he said. Uighurs speak a Turkic language and have cultural ties with Turkey that make it a favoured destination for avoiding persecution in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang. But news reports have accused Turkey of covertly returning Uighurs to China via third countries. Rights activists say Xinjiang is home to a vast network of extrajudicial internment camps that have imprisoned at least one million people. China says these are vocational training centres to counter extremism. Ethnic Uighurs rallied for the ninth day running Wednesday to express their fears about the extradition treaty. "God willing, we hope our state will not approve such a thing," said Omer Farah, a Uighur with Turkish citizenship who said his children are detained in China. "But if it does, we are really worried. Because for China, all 50,000 Uighurs who live here are criminals."

Turkey brushes aside fears of Uighur deportations to China

Alibaba Group has said it would not allow its technology to be used for targetting and identifying specific ethnic groups, following a report that its facial recognition technology can pick out Uighur minorities.

Alibaba, in a statement Thursday, said it was "dismayed" that Alibaba Cloud developed facial recognition technology that includes ethnicity as an attribute for tagging video imagery and that the firm never intended the technology to be used in this manner.

"We have eliminated any ethnic tag in our product offering," Alibaba said.

US-based IPVM in a report published on Wednesday said software capable of identifying Uighurs appears in Alibaba's Cloud Shield content moderation service for websites.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alibaba-facial-recognition-tech-can-specifically-pick-out-uighur-minority-new-report-says-350398">Also read |&nbsp;Alibaba facial recognition tech can specifically pick out Uighur minority, new report says</a>

Surveillance industry researcher IPVM's report came as human rights groups accuse China of forcing over 1 million Muslim Uighurs into labour camps, and call out firms suspected of complicity.

IPVM said mention of Uighurs in the software disappeared near the time it published its report, and that Alibaba told it the feature has only been used "in a testing environment".

Alibaba described Cloud Shield as a system that "detects and recognises text, pictures, videos, and voices containing pornography, politics, violent terrorism, advertisements, and spam, and provides verification, marking, custom configuration and other capabilities."

An archived record of the technology shows it can perform such tasks as "glasses inspection", "smile detection", whether the subject is "ethnic" and, specifically, "Is it Uighur".

Consequently, if a Uighur livestreams a video on a website signed up to Cloud Shield, the software can detect that the user is Uighur and flag the video for review or removal, IPVM researcher Charles Rollet told Reuters.

Contrary to these findings, China has repeatedly denied forcing anyone into what it has called vocational training centres, and has also said the region of Xinjiang is under threat from Islamist militants.

(with inputs)

Alibaba Group has said it would not allow its technology to be used for targetting and identifying specific ethnic groups, following a report that its facial recognition technology can pick out Uighur minorities.

Alibaba Group has said it would not allow its technology to be used for targetting and identifying specific ethnic groups, following a report that its facial recognition technology can pick out Uighur minorities. Alibaba, in a statement Thursday, said it was "dismayed" that Alibaba Cloud developed facial recognition technology that includes ethnicity as an attribute for tagging video imagery and that the firm never intended the technology to be used in this manner. "We have eliminated any ethnic tag in our product offering," Alibaba said. US-based IPVM in a report published on Wednesday said software capable of identifying Uighurs appears in Alibaba's Cloud Shield content moderation service for websites. Also read | Alibaba facial recognition tech can specifically pick out Uighur minority, new report says Surveillance industry researcher IPVM's report came as human rights groups accuse China of forcing over 1 million Muslim Uighurs into labour camps, and call out firms suspected of complicity. IPVM said mention of Uighurs in the software disappeared near the time it published its report, and that Alibaba told it the feature has only been used "in a testing environment". Alibaba described Cloud Shield as a system that "detects and recognises text, pictures, videos, and voices containing pornography, politics, violent terrorism, advertisements, and spam, and provides verification, marking, custom configuration and other capabilities." An archived record of the technology shows it can perform such tasks as "glasses inspection", "smile detection", whether the subject is "ethnic" and, specifically, "Is it Uighur". Consequently, if a Uighur livestreams a video on a website signed up to Cloud Shield, the software can detect that the user is Uighur and flag the video for review or removal, IPVM researcher Charles Rollet told Reuters. Contrary to these findings, China has repeatedly denied forcing anyone into what it has called vocational training centres, and has also said the region of Xinjiang is under threat from Islamist militants. (with inputs)

Alibaba clarifies won't allow its tech to target, identify ethnic groups

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

According to reports, Chinese telecom giant Huawei tested Artificial Intelligence software that could identify Uighur minorities to alert government authorities.

Huawei tested AI software to identify Uighur Muslims

For the first time, Pope Francis has referred to Muslim Uighurs in China as a “persecuted” community.

In a new book titled “Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future”, Francis also urged world governments to set up a universal minimum wage, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19. The book includes a 150-page collaboration with Austen Ivereigh, Pope’s English language biographer.

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"I think often of persecuted peoples: the Rohingya, the poor Uighurs, the Yazidi," he said in a section. He also addressed the persecution of Christians in Islamic countries. This marked the first time that the Pope mentioned Uighurs. He has spoked about Myanmar’s Rohingya and Iraq’s Yazidi on earlier occasions.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/pompeo-says-china-treatment-of-uighurs-gravest-threat-to-religious-freedom-338812" hreflang="en">Pompeo says China treatment of Uighurs 'gravest threat' to religious freedom</a>

The Pope spoke about economic, social, and political changes which he says are required to address inequalities after the end of this pandemic. The book is set to go on sale on December 1. He also out at anti-maskers, and claimed that those who perceived masks as an imposition from the state are “victims only in their imagination”.

Pope Francis also praised those who protested against the death of George Floyd, who was killed by White police officers in the United States.&nbsp; According to activist groups and governments, China is holding 1 million Uighur Muslims in camps in Xinjiang, where crimes against humanity and genocide is taking place.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/apple-rallying-against-bill-to-stop-forced-uighur-labour-344963" hreflang="en">Apple rallying against bill to stop forced Uighur labour</a>

China claims that the camps are education centres and are part of the country’s deradicalisation efforts.

Pope Francis also criticised trickle-down economics, whereby the basic belief is that tax breaks and incentives for wealthy businesses will eventually benefit society and create jobs.

He referred to it as “the false assumption of the infamous trickle-down theory that a growing economy will make us all richer”.

For the first time, Pope Francis has referred to Muslim Uighurs in China as a “persecuted” community. In a new book titled “Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future”, Francis also urged world governments to set up a universal minimum wage, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19.

For the first time, Pope Francis has referred to Muslim Uighurs in China as a “persecuted” community. In a new book titled “Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future”, Francis also urged world governments to set up a universal minimum wage, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19. The book includes a 150-page collaboration with Austen Ivereigh, Pope’s English language biographer. "I think often of persecuted peoples: the Rohingya, the poor Uighurs, the Yazidi," he said in a section. He also addressed the persecution of Christians in Islamic countries. This marked the first time that the Pope mentioned Uighurs. He has spoked about Myanmar’s Rohingya and Iraq’s Yazidi on earlier occasions. Also read: Pompeo says China treatment of Uighurs 'gravest threat' to religious freedom The Pope spoke about economic, social, and political changes which he says are required to address inequalities after the end of this pandemic. The book is set to go on sale on December 1. He also out at anti-maskers, and claimed that those who perceived masks as an imposition from the state are “victims only in their imagination”. Pope Francis also praised those who protested against the death of George Floyd, who was killed by White police officers in the United States. According to activist groups and governments, China is holding 1 million Uighur Muslims in camps in Xinjiang, where crimes against humanity and genocide is taking place. Also read: Apple rallying against bill to stop forced Uighur labour China claims that the camps are education centres and are part of the country’s deradicalisation efforts. Pope Francis also criticised trickle-down economics, whereby the basic belief is that tax breaks and incentives for wealthy businesses will eventually benefit society and create jobs. He referred to it as “the false assumption of the infamous trickle-down theory that a growing economy will make us all richer”.

Pope Francis refers to Uighur Muslims as a 'persecuted' group for the first time

A report by the US Labor Department has called China a hotspot for forced labour. A study found that 83 top brands have benefitted from China's forced labour program. WION's Palki Sharma tells you how Chinese authorities pushed Uighur Muslims into forced labour.

China: The world capital for forced labour | Gravitas

The US House of Representatives voted Wednesday to force companies to disclose products that come from China's&nbsp;Xinjiang&nbsp;region, in a new bid to stop what lawmakers say is widespread forced labor in the restive area.

The bill follows a broader act approved a week earlier that aims to ban imports from&nbsp;Xinjiang, contending that abuses of the Uighur people are so widespread that all goods from the region should be considered made with slave labor.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-us-china-relationship-took-a-turn-for-the-worse-314882">How US-China relationship took a turn for the worse</a>

"The exploitation and enslavement of the Uighurs must stop. Americans don't want to purchase goods made with slave labor," said Representative Jennifer Wexton, a Democrat who led the latest effort.

The legislation would require all publicly traded companies to report to the Securities and Exchange Commission whether they are involved in&nbsp;Xinjiang, a major source of the global textile industry's yarn.

Unlike the broader act, which passed almost unanimously, the Uighur Forced Labor Disclosure Act drew opposition from most Republicans but passed 253-163 in the Democratic-led House.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-imposes-sanctions-on-chinese-officials-over-abuse-of-muslim-minorities-in-xinjiang-312101">US imposes sanctions on Chinese officials over 'abuse' of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang</a>

Its prospects are uncertain as it needs to clear the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans and consumed by discussions on a Supreme Court nomination and Covid-19 relief a month before elections.

Republicans raised objections after concerns voiced by the US Chamber of Commerce, which said that the regulations imposed an impossible burden on legitimate companies.

The business lobby drew a parallel with previous efforts to label minerals from conflict-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, saying that companies had no reliable way to certify if products are free from abuses.

Representative Patrick McHenry, a Republican, accused bill sponsor Wexton of wanting to appear tough on China and said a better approach was to impose sanctions on officials, as President Donald Trump's administration has done.

"The bill before us is nothing more than a press release for an election," he said.

Wexton, whose district in northern Virginia has a large Uighur American community, scoffed at the suggestion and said Republicans were ignoring abuses and "perhaps even genocide" in&nbsp;Xinjiang.

"Republicans talk a good game but only if it doesn't create any kind of burden on US corporations or their profit margins," she said.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute in a recent report said it had identified more than 380 suspected detention facilities where China is believed to have held more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic-speaking people.

The US House of Representatives voted Wednesday to force companies to disclose products that come from China's Xinjiang region, in a new bid to stop what lawmakers say is widespread forced labor in the restive area.

The US House of Representatives voted Wednesday to force companies to disclose products that come from China's Xinjiang region, in a new bid to stop what lawmakers say is widespread forced labor in the restive area. The bill follows a broader act approved a week earlier that aims to ban imports from Xinjiang, contending that abuses of the Uighur people are so widespread that all goods from the region should be considered made with slave labor. Also see: How US-China relationship took a turn for the worse "The exploitation and enslavement of the Uighurs must stop. Americans don't want to purchase goods made with slave labor," said Representative Jennifer Wexton, a Democrat who led the latest effort. The legislation would require all publicly traded companies to report to the Securities and Exchange Commission whether they are involved in Xinjiang, a major source of the global textile industry's yarn. Unlike the broader act, which passed almost unanimously, the Uighur Forced Labor Disclosure Act drew opposition from most Republicans but passed 253-163 in the Democratic-led House. Also read: US imposes sanctions on Chinese officials over 'abuse' of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang Its prospects are uncertain as it needs to clear the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans and consumed by discussions on a Supreme Court nomination and Covid-19 relief a month before elections. Republicans raised objections after concerns voiced by the US Chamber of Commerce, which said that the regulations imposed an impossible burden on legitimate companies. The business lobby drew a parallel with previous efforts to label minerals from conflict-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, saying that companies had no reliable way to certify if products are free from abuses. Representative Patrick McHenry, a Republican, accused bill sponsor Wexton of wanting to appear tough on China and said a better approach was to impose sanctions on officials, as President Donald Trump's administration has done. "The bill before us is nothing more than a press release for an election," he said. Wexton, whose district in northern Virginia has a large Uighur American community, scoffed at the suggestion and said Republicans were ignoring abuses and "perhaps even genocide" in Xinjiang. "Republicans talk a good game but only if it doesn't create any kind of burden on US corporations or their profit margins," she said. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute in a recent report said it had identified more than 380 suspected detention facilities where China is believed to have held more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic-speaking people.

US passes bill requiring firms to disclose Xinjiang products

After calling China 'peace-loving', Xi Jinping has now said that 'happiness is on the rise' in Xinjiang. WION's Palki Sharma tells you how this may just the most outrageous justification for state-sponsored persecution of the Uighurs.

Gravitas: Xi Jinping justifies crimes against Uighurs

An Australian institute has claimed China has constructed about 400 internment camps in Xinjiang region, with dozens of such facilities continuing for the last two years.&nbsp;

The latest satellite images procured the Australian Strategic Policy Institute revealed 380 detention centres set up across the region since 2017, as reported by The Guardian.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-unga-jinping-claimed-china-is-not-expansionist-these-facts-tell-otherwise-329724">At UNGA, Jinping claimed China is not 'expansionist'. These facts tell otherwise!</a>

It identified 14 such prisons which China describes as "re-education", which are still under construction.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-chinas-four-pronged-approach-to-restructure-tibet-through-repression-329738">Explained: China's four-pronged approach to restructure Tibet through repression</a>

The institute said these camps range from lowest security re-education camps to fortified prisons.

"The evidence in this database shows that despite Chinese officials’ claims about detainees graduating from the camps, significant investment in the construction of new detention facilities has continued throughout 2019 and 2020," said Nathan Ruser, a researcher from ASPI.&nbsp;

If the findings are true, these camps are 100 more than what was revealed by previous investigations and now researchers believe most of these detention centres have been identified now.

In a Xinjiang Data Project, a database that can be accessed publicly, all the information about these camps, including their coordinates have been shared.&nbsp;

The camps were identified through details shared by survivors, satellite images and other projects tracking these centres. &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

An Australian institute has claimed China has constructed about 400 internment camps in Xinjiang region, with dozens of such facilities continuing for the last two years.

An Australian institute has claimed China has constructed about 400 internment camps in Xinjiang region, with dozens of such facilities continuing for the last two years. The latest satellite images procured the Australian Strategic Policy Institute revealed 380 detention centres set up across the region since 2017, as reported by The Guardian. Also read | At UNGA, Jinping claimed China is not 'expansionist'. These facts tell otherwise! It identified 14 such prisons which China describes as "re-education", which are still under construction. Also read | Explained: China's four-pronged approach to restructure Tibet through repression The institute said these camps range from lowest security re-education camps to fortified prisons. "The evidence in this database shows that despite Chinese officials’ claims about detainees graduating from the camps, significant investment in the construction of new detention facilities has continued throughout 2019 and 2020," said Nathan Ruser, a researcher from ASPI. If the findings are true, these camps are 100 more than what was revealed by previous investigations and now researchers believe most of these detention centres have been identified now. In a Xinjiang Data Project, a database that can be accessed publicly, all the information about these camps, including their coordinates have been shared. The camps were identified through details shared by survivors, satellite images and other projects tracking these centres.

China constructed 400 internment camps in Xinjiang: Study

China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that&nbsp;US&nbsp;import&nbsp;bans&nbsp;on some products from&nbsp;China's&nbsp;Xinjiang&nbsp;region were sabotaging global&nbsp;supply&nbsp;chains.

Earlier, the Trump administration on Monday&nbsp;blocked US&nbsp;imports&nbsp;of cotton, apparel and other products from five entities in western&nbsp;China's&nbsp;Xinjiang&nbsp;region.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-puts-block-on-chinese-products-from-uighur-forced-labour-327588">US puts block on Chinese products from Uighur ‘forced labour’</a>

"The Chinese government is engaged in systematic abuses against the Uighur people" and other minorities, said Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection agency.

The actions announced consisted of "withhold release orders" or WROs, which empower the CBP to seize products from the blacklisted companies and organizations.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-concerned-about-religious-repression-of-uighurs-in-china-327618/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The US government is increasingly using such orders to pressure Beijing over its detention of more than one million members of the mostly Muslim Uighur minority in Xinjiang for ostensible reeducation.

Calling attention to abuses

In July, the customs agency placed WRO blocks on hair products, used for wigs and extensions, from several companies operating in Xinjiang, and in August did the same for garments made and sold by the Hero Vast Group.

"The Chinese government needs to close its concentration camps," said Cuccinelli.

The move came as rights groups and members of US Congress press the administration of President Donald Trump to take more resolute action over alleged Chinese repression of Muslims in the country's vast west.

In July the US Treasury imposed sanctions on a major paramilitary group, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, accusing it of abuses against Uighurs and other mostly Muslim groups.

China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that US import bans on some products from China's Xinjiang region were sabotaging global supply chains. Earlier, the Trump administration on Monday blocked US imports of cotton, apparel and other products from five entities in western China's Xinjiang region.

China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that US import bans on some products from China's Xinjiang region were sabotaging global supply chains. Earlier, the Trump administration on Monday blocked US imports of cotton, apparel and other products from five entities in western China's Xinjiang region. Also read: US puts block on Chinese products from Uighur ‘forced labour’ "The Chinese government is engaged in systematic abuses against the Uighur people" and other minorities, said Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection agency. The actions announced consisted of "withhold release orders" or WROs, which empower the CBP to seize products from the blacklisted companies and organizations. The US government is increasingly using such orders to pressure Beijing over its detention of more than one million members of the mostly Muslim Uighur minority in Xinjiang for ostensible reeducation. Calling attention to abuses In July, the customs agency placed WRO blocks on hair products, used for wigs and extensions, from several companies operating in Xinjiang, and in August did the same for garments made and sold by the Hero Vast Group. "The Chinese government needs to close its concentration camps," said Cuccinelli. The move came as rights groups and members of US Congress press the administration of President Donald Trump to take more resolute action over alleged Chinese repression of Muslims in the country's vast west. In July the US Treasury imposed sanctions on a major paramilitary group, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, accusing it of abuses against Uighurs and other mostly Muslim groups.

US bans on Xinjiang imports to sabotage global supply chains, says China

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