On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives passed a law banning imports from China's Xinjiang region because of concerns about forced labour. This is one of three measures that has received overwhelming backing, amid Washington's push back against Beijing's treatment of the Uyghurs Muslim minority.

The House overwhelmingly approved the 'Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act' by a vote of 428-1. It must now also be approved by the Senate and signed by President Biden before it can become law.

Under the 'Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act' or the Uyghur measure, all goods coming from Xinjiang, where the Chinese government has set up a vast network of detention camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim groups, would be presumed to have been made with forced labour.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-to-vote-on-bill-banning-imports-of-products-from-chinas-xinjiang-433718">US House to vote on bill banning imports of products from China's Xinjiang</a>

"The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, requires corporations to prove with "clear and convincing evidence" that imports from Xinjiang are not made with forced labour,&nbsp;American news website Axios reported.

The Chinese government denies abuses in Xinjiang, but the US government and many rights groups claim Beijing is committing genocide there.

In light of Xinjiang's role in supplying much of the world's solar panel materials, Republicans have accused Biden's White House and fellow Democrats in Congress of slow-walking the legislation because it would complicate President Biden's renewable energy agenda.

Democrats and the White House, however, deny delaying the legislation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xinjiang-papers-leak-reveals-connection-between-xi-jinpings-speeches-and-the-uyghur-crackdown-432970">'Xinjiang Papers': Leak reveals connection between Xi Jinping's speeches and the Uyghur crackdown</a>

Two other measures related to China and human rights were also passed by the Democratic-led House by landslide margins.

The House of Representatives voted 428-0 in favour of a resolution declaring that the International Olympic Committee violated human rights by cooperating with the Chinese government.

Another resolution calling for action at the United Nations was passed by 427 votes to 1. This condemns China's "ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity" against Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minority groups while calling for action at the UN.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: China cornered on Xinjiang

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-cornered-on-xinjiang-384851/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On Monday, the Biden administration had also announced that US government officials would boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to China's human rights violations.&nbsp;

The United States athletes will still be allowed to participate in the Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games in Beijing, but the Biden administration has decided not to send any diplomats or officials.

(With inputs from agencies)

On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives passed a law banning imports from China's Xinjiang region because of concerns about forced labour. This is one of three measures that has received overwhelming backing, amid Washington's push back against Beijing's treatment of the Uyghurs Muslim minority.

On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives passed a law banning imports from China's Xinjiang region because of concerns about forced labour. This is one of three measures that has received overwhelming backing, amid Washington's push back against Beijing's treatment of the Uyghurs Muslim minority. The House overwhelmingly approved the 'Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act' by a vote of 428-1. It must now also be approved by the Senate and signed by President Biden before it can become law. Under the 'Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act' or the Uyghur measure, all goods coming from Xinjiang, where the Chinese government has set up a vast network of detention camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim groups, would be presumed to have been made with forced labour. Also read | US House to vote on bill banning imports of products from China's Xinjiang "The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, requires corporations to prove with "clear and convincing evidence" that imports from Xinjiang are not made with forced labour, American news website Axios reported. The Chinese government denies abuses in Xinjiang, but the US government and many rights groups claim Beijing is committing genocide there. In light of Xinjiang's role in supplying much of the world's solar panel materials, Republicans have accused Biden's White House and fellow Democrats in Congress of slow-walking the legislation because it would complicate President Biden's renewable energy agenda. Democrats and the White House, however, deny delaying the legislation. Also read | 'Xinjiang Papers': Leak reveals connection between Xi Jinping's speeches and the Uyghur crackdown Two other measures related to China and human rights were also passed by the Democratic-led House by landslide margins. The House of Representatives voted 428-0 in favour of a resolution declaring that the International Olympic Committee violated human rights by cooperating with the Chinese government. Another resolution calling for action at the United Nations was passed by 427 votes to 1. This condemns China's "ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity" against Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minority groups while calling for action at the UN. Watch | Gravitas: China cornered on Xinjiang On Monday, the Biden administration had also announced that US government officials would boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to China's human rights violations. The United States athletes will still be allowed to participate in the Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games in Beijing, but the Biden administration has decided not to send any diplomats or officials. (With inputs from agencies)

'Forced labour': US House passes law to ban imports from China's Xinjiang

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum said in a report issued Tuesday that China had escalated its crimes against the Muslim community of Uyghurs in the northwestern region of Xinjiang and that it was “gravely concerned” that the government “may be committing genocide.”

The report, “ ‘To Make Us Slowly Disappear’: The Chinese Government’s Assault on the Uyghurs,” builds on a March 2020 announcement made by the museum that there was “reasonable basis” to believe that the Chinese government “had perpetrated the crimes against humanity of persecution and of imprisonment” against the Uyghurs.

Based on compiled evidence, the report issued Tuesday found there was now “reasonable basis” to believe that the crimes include “forced sterilization, sexual violence, enslavement, torture, and forcible transfer.”

In a statement, Tom Bernstein, chair of the museum’s committee on conscience, called on the Chinese government to stop the crimes against the Uyghurs and allow independent international monitors to investigate.

“The Chinese government has done its best to keep information about crimes against the Uyghurs from seeing the light of day,” he said. “The information that has come out so far, including documentation from courageous Uyghur activists, has been damning.”

In a statement, Naomi Kikoler, director of the museum’s Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, said that the “Chinese government’s assault on the Uyghur community” described in the report was “alarming in scale and severity.”

“The damage inflicted upon Uyghur individuals, families, and their community has left deep physical and emotional scars,” she said. “The trauma from these atrocities will harm generations of Uyghurs.”

The report calls on the Chinese government to “immediately halt the commission of mass atrocity crimes,” and lists specific next steps such as ending forced sterilization and forced abortion. But the Chinese government, which has over the years denied such crimes, is unlikely to be fazed by the report or follow through with any demands made of it.

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the report Tuesday. But the Chinese government had spoken against such claims as recently as Oct. 21, when more than 40 countries, including the United States, criticized China’s repression of the Uyghurs at a United Nations meeting. China’s U.N. ambassador, Zhang Jun, responded by saying that the countries had made “groundless accusations against China.”

“No matter how many times repeated, lies are still lies,” the ambassador said. “You are using human rights as a pretext for political manoeuvring to provoke confrontation. In fact, you are the troublemaker and biggest obstacle to international human rights cooperation.”

The museum in its report concedes that “it would be naive to expect the Chinese government to change course so dramatically without a concerted international effort.”

“Having publicly declared that China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity, the United States and like-minded governments must be at the centre of the effort to press China to end its atrocities against the Uyghurs,” the report said.

Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, shared the museum’s report on Twitter on Tuesday, saying that it renewed “our call for the People’s Republic of China to end its crimes against Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.”

The Uyghurs have long expressed resentment for China’s control of the Xinjiang region, saying they have been discriminated against, while 1 million or more people in internment camps have been detained for a number of acts, including religious practice and violating birth restrictions.

In one example cited in the report, an Uyghur woman recalled being beaten and raped while she was detained in Xinjiang in March 2018. The woman detailed being raped by men who used iron bars and electric batons, and later being raped by three men together.

“I remember it very clearly,” the report quotes her as saying. “I can’t cry and I can’t die … my soul and heart are dead.”

The United States has previously spoken out against China’s treatment of the Uyghurs. In the final full day of the Trump administration, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that China was carrying out genocide in a “systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs.”

Under the Biden administration, in an annual report on human rights practices released in March, the United States condemned the Chinese government for what Secretary of State Antony Blinken said was “genocide against Uyghurs” and crimes of “imprisonment, torture, enforced sterilization, and persecution.”

In its announcement in March 2020, the museum accused the Chinese of conducting forced assimilation of the Uyghurs. While that did not fall under the definition of genocide under the Genocide Convention, the museum said at the time, “Regardless of its legal classification, assimilation threatens the continued existence of Uyghurs’ cultural and religious practices.”

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum said in a report issued Tuesday that China had escalated its crimes against the Muslim community of Uyghurs in the northwestern region of Xinjiang and that it was “gravely concerned” that the government “may be committing genocide.

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum said in a report issued Tuesday that China had escalated its crimes against the Muslim community of Uyghurs in the northwestern region of Xinjiang and that it was “gravely concerned” that the government “may be committing genocide.” The report, “ ‘To Make Us Slowly Disappear’: The Chinese Government’s Assault on the Uyghurs,” builds on a March 2020 announcement made by the museum that there was “reasonable basis” to believe that the Chinese government “had perpetrated the crimes against humanity of persecution and of imprisonment” against the Uyghurs. Based on compiled evidence, the report issued Tuesday found there was now “reasonable basis” to believe that the crimes include “forced sterilization, sexual violence, enslavement, torture, and forcible transfer.” In a statement, Tom Bernstein, chair of the museum’s committee on conscience, called on the Chinese government to stop the crimes against the Uyghurs and allow independent international monitors to investigate. “The Chinese government has done its best to keep information about crimes against the Uyghurs from seeing the light of day,” he said. “The information that has come out so far, including documentation from courageous Uyghur activists, has been damning.” In a statement, Naomi Kikoler, director of the museum’s Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, said that the “Chinese government’s assault on the Uyghur community” described in the report was “alarming in scale and severity.” “The damage inflicted upon Uyghur individuals, families, and their community has left deep physical and emotional scars,” she said. “The trauma from these atrocities will harm generations of Uyghurs.” The report calls on the Chinese government to “immediately halt the commission of mass atrocity crimes,” and lists specific next steps such as ending forced sterilization and forced abortion. But the Chinese government, which has over the years denied such crimes, is unlikely to be fazed by the report or follow through with any demands made of it. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the report Tuesday. But the Chinese government had spoken against such claims as recently as Oct. 21, when more than 40 countries, including the United States, criticized China’s repression of the Uyghurs at a United Nations meeting. China’s U.N. ambassador, Zhang Jun, responded by saying that the countries had made “groundless accusations against China.” “No matter how many times repeated, lies are still lies,” the ambassador said. “You are using human rights as a pretext for political manoeuvring to provoke confrontation. In fact, you are the troublemaker and biggest obstacle to international human rights cooperation.” The museum in its report concedes that “it would be naive to expect the Chinese government to change course so dramatically without a concerted international effort.” “Having publicly declared that China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity, the United States and like-minded governments must be at the centre of the effort to press China to end its atrocities against the Uyghurs,” the report said. Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, shared the museum’s report on Twitter on Tuesday, saying that it renewed “our call for the People’s Republic of China to end its crimes against Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.” The Uyghurs have long expressed resentment for China’s control of the Xinjiang region, saying they have been discriminated against, while 1 million or more people in internment camps have been detained for a number of acts, including religious practice and violating birth restrictions. In one example cited in the report, an Uyghur woman recalled being beaten and raped while she was detained in Xinjiang in March 2018. The woman detailed being raped by men who used iron bars and electric batons, and later being raped by three men together. “I remember it very clearly,” the report quotes her as saying. “I can’t cry and I can’t die … my soul and heart are dead.” The United States has previously spoken out against China’s treatment of the Uyghurs. In the final full day of the Trump administration, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that China was carrying out genocide in a “systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs.” Under the Biden administration, in an annual report on human rights practices released in March, the United States condemned the Chinese government for what Secretary of State Antony Blinken said was “genocide against Uyghurs” and crimes of “imprisonment, torture, enforced sterilization, and persecution.” In its announcement in March 2020, the museum accused the Chinese of conducting forced assimilation of the Uyghurs. While that did not fall under the definition of genocide under the Genocide Convention, the museum said at the time, “Regardless of its legal classification, assimilation threatens the continued existence of Uyghurs’ cultural and religious practices.”

US Holocaust Museum says China ‘may be committing genocide’ against Uyghurs

Beijing is feeling the heat once again on as forty-three countries called on China at the UN to "ensure full respect for the rule of law" with regard to the Muslim Uyghur community in Xinjiang, where respect for human rights remains "particularly" worrying.

43 countries criticize China over Uyghur Muslims' rights

China's state-run Global Times in its report claimed that the population of ethnic minorities in the restive Xinjiang region has&nbsp;grown in "size and quality" as the government released a white paper on Xinjiang's population.

The report titled "Xinjiang Population Dynamics and Data" said the Uyghur&nbsp;population in 1953 was 3.61 million which rose to 11.62 million in 2020.

China's national newspaper said it was the first white paper released since 2015 on Xinjiang's demographic changes which sought to show "demographic development in Xinjiang" in the last 70 years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-imposes-population-optimisation-strategy-to-shrink-uyghurs-in-xinjiang-409991">Also Read:&nbsp;China imposes 'population optimisation strategy' to shrink Uyghurs in Xinjiang</a>

The Communist Party mouthpiece also informed similar white papers were also released on "human rights achievements" including in "vocational training and education centres".

The data reportedly found that life expectancy in Xinjiang had also increased. The report said the total population of Xinjiang was 25.85 million with ethnic minorities numbering 14.93 million and the Han ethnic group totalling 10.92 million.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/human-rights-activists-call-on-china-to-release-uyghur-scholar-416014">Also Read:&nbsp;Human rights activists call on China to release Uyghur scholar</a>

"The Uyghur&nbsp;population grew at a compound annual growth rate of 1.67 per cent during the first two decades in the 21st century," the report said while adding that Uyghurs&nbsp;formed over 83 per cent of Xinjiang's population in four prefectures in the southern region.&nbsp;

There is however no way to corroborate the population figures. The report also dismissed reports of genocide in Xinjiang claiming the Chinese government had published "undeniable facts".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uyghur-turks-should-live-in-peace-as-equal-citizens-of-china-erdogan-to-president-xi-jinping-398075">Also Read:&nbsp;Uyghur Turks should live in peace as equal citizens of China: Erdogan</a>

Earlier this month UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet had said she "regretted" not being able to get "meaningful access" to Xinjiang.

At least 1 million Uyghurs&nbsp;including other minorities are believed to be in detention camps in Xinjiang, according to a UN estimate.

Chinese products made in Xinjiang have become the focus of attention among countries as the US Senate passed a legislation in July to ban products imported from Xinjiang.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

China's state-run Global Times in its report claimed that the population of ethnic minorities in the restive Xinjiang region has grown in "size and quality" as the government released a white paper on Xinjiang's population.

China's state-run Global Times in its report claimed that the population of ethnic minorities in the restive Xinjiang region has grown in "size and quality" as the government released a white paper on Xinjiang's population. The report titled "Xinjiang Population Dynamics and Data" said the Uyghur population in 1953 was 3.61 million which rose to 11.62 million in 2020. China's national newspaper said it was the first white paper released since 2015 on Xinjiang's demographic changes which sought to show "demographic development in Xinjiang" in the last 70 years. Also Read: China imposes 'population optimisation strategy' to shrink Uyghurs in Xinjiang The Communist Party mouthpiece also informed similar white papers were also released on "human rights achievements" including in "vocational training and education centres". The data reportedly found that life expectancy in Xinjiang had also increased. The report said the total population of Xinjiang was 25.85 million with ethnic minorities numbering 14.93 million and the Han ethnic group totalling 10.92 million. Also Read: Human rights activists call on China to release Uyghur scholar "The Uyghur population grew at a compound annual growth rate of 1.67 per cent during the first two decades in the 21st century," the report said while adding that Uyghurs formed over 83 per cent of Xinjiang's population in four prefectures in the southern region. There is however no way to corroborate the population figures. The report also dismissed reports of genocide in Xinjiang claiming the Chinese government had published "undeniable facts". Also Read: Uyghur Turks should live in peace as equal citizens of China: Erdogan Earlier this month UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet had said she "regretted" not being able to get "meaningful access" to Xinjiang. At least 1 million Uyghurs including other minorities are believed to be in detention camps in Xinjiang, according to a UN estimate. Chinese products made in Xinjiang have become the focus of attention among countries as the US Senate passed a legislation in July to ban products imported from Xinjiang. (With inputs from Agencies)

China's white paper claims rise in Uyghur population in Xinjiang

According to reports, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/burqa-not-part-of-afghan-culture-defiant-women-in-traditional-wear-tell-taliban-412726">Taliban</a> has told Chinese officials that Uyghur militants belonging to East Turkistan Islamic Movement&nbsp;(ETIM) have left Afghanistan.

A Taliban spokesman reportedly told Chinese state media that the Uyghur Islamic group which China had mentioned earlier is not present in the country and "won't be allowed to return".

China has branded the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) as a terror threat. China is believed to have held over a million Uyghurs in internment camps since 2017 and fears the presence of ETIM in Afghanistan may lead to trouble in the restive Xinjiang region.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghan-women-protest-against-taliban-restrictions-fearing-curbs-on-womens-rights-412673/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

China’s state-run Global Times newspaper reported that Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen had said there is no place for anyone to use Afghanistan against other counties.

"Those who are intending to carry out sabotage activities in other countries or have their foreign agenda would not be able to remain in the country," Shaheen was quoted as saying in a warning to ETIM.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/arms-trade-and-terror-how-the-pakistan-afghanistan-china-link-was-established-decades-ago-412566">Read:&nbsp;How the Pakistan-Afghanistan-China link was established decades ago</a>

Last month China had asked the United States to reimpose the ban on ETIM as the Taliban surged through the country and established control over Afghanistan. ETIM is believed to have Al Qaeda&nbsp;and Taliban links.

The United Nations Security Council(UNSC) had listed ETIM as a terrorist organisation in 2002, however, the former Trump administration had removed the group from the US list of terrorist organisations last year amid reports of human rights violations by China against Uygurs in Xinjiang province.

Reports claimed Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on a visit to China earlier had assured Chinese officials earlier that ETIM will not be allowed to function in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

According to reports, the Taliban has told Chinese officials that Uyghur militants belonging to East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) have left Afghanistan. A Taliban spokesman reportedly told Chinese state media that the Uyghur Islamic group which China had mentioned earlier is not present in the country and "won't be allowed to return".

According to reports, the Taliban has told Chinese officials that Uyghur militants belonging to East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) have left Afghanistan. A Taliban spokesman reportedly told Chinese state media that the Uyghur Islamic group which China had mentioned earlier is not present in the country and "won't be allowed to return". China has branded the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) as a terror threat. China is believed to have held over a million Uyghurs in internment camps since 2017 and fears the presence of ETIM in Afghanistan may lead to trouble in the restive Xinjiang region. Watch: China’s state-run Global Times newspaper reported that Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen had said there is no place for anyone to use Afghanistan against other counties. "Those who are intending to carry out sabotage activities in other countries or have their foreign agenda would not be able to remain in the country," Shaheen was quoted as saying in a warning to ETIM. Read: How the Pakistan-Afghanistan-China link was established decades ago Last month China had asked the United States to reimpose the ban on ETIM as the Taliban surged through the country and established control over Afghanistan. ETIM is believed to have Al Qaeda and Taliban links. The United Nations Security Council(UNSC) had listed ETIM as a terrorist organisation in 2002, however, the former Trump administration had removed the group from the US list of terrorist organisations last year amid reports of human rights violations by China against Uygurs in Xinjiang province. Reports claimed Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on a visit to China earlier had assured Chinese officials earlier that ETIM will not be allowed to function in Afghanistan. (With inputs from Agencies)

Uyghur-linked ETIM group has left Afghanistan: Taliban to China

Beijing has imposed a "population optimisation strategy" in order to shrink the population of the Uyghur community in the country's southern Xinjiang, said the report, based on official Chinese documents and academic debate.&nbsp;

As a part of this strategy, China is immigrating the people of the Han Chinese community in Uyghur populated regions while imposing strict birth controls on the Uyghurs, Radio Free Asia reported, citing a new report by German researcher Adrian Zenz, which is the latest in a series of studies of Chinese measures to control and assimilate the 12 million Uyghurs of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) that have formed the basis of genocide accusations against Beijing.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: China gives Uighur detention camps a "makeover"

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-gives-uighur-detention-camps-a-makeover-399819/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Only eight per cent of the population in Southern Xinjiang belongs to Han Chinese community, which is seen as a security concern, Zenz wrote in the 22-page report.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-chinese-couples-get-approval-for-3-kids-uighur-women-still-subjected-to-birth-control-horrors-388898">Also read | As Chinese couples get approval for 3 kids, Uighur women still subjected to birth control horrors</a> 
 
Therefore, "Increasing the Han population is seen as the number-one method to control southern Xinjiang and suppress the unrest that could be created by Uyghurs in resistance," Zenz said during an interview.&nbsp;

China's policies are "designed to achieve assimilation [by] trying to neutralize, assimilate, and dilute the Uyghur population," added Zenz. A senior fellow in China Studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington also said that this policy is "a way to promote intermarriage, interethnic marriage, which is another way to dilute the Uyghurs," Radio Free Asia reported.&nbsp;

"If you mix a lot of Han into an Uyghur community, that community changes. You can also justify a change in policy so that you no longer need to respect the minority language or religion because it's no longer mono-ethnic, [but rather] multiethnic, " he added.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Uyghur population in Afghanistan fears that they will be extradited to China after the Taliban takeover of the war-ravaged country.&nbsp;

Earlier in August, a US-based research and advocacy group released a new report documenting the complicity of Pakistan and Afghanistan in China's transnational repression of Uyghurs.&nbsp;

The report by Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) and the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (Oxus), discerns different methods used by the Chinese government against Uyghur communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Beijing has imposed a "population optimisation strategy" in order to shrink the population of the Uyghur community in the country's southern Xinjiang, said the report, based on official Chinese documents and academic debate.

Beijing has imposed a "population optimisation strategy" in order to shrink the population of the Uyghur community in the country's southern Xinjiang, said the report, based on official Chinese documents and academic debate. As a part of this strategy, China is immigrating the people of the Han Chinese community in Uyghur populated regions while imposing strict birth controls on the Uyghurs, Radio Free Asia reported, citing a new report by German researcher Adrian Zenz, which is the latest in a series of studies of Chinese measures to control and assimilate the 12 million Uyghurs of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) that have formed the basis of genocide accusations against Beijing. Watch | Gravitas: China gives Uighur detention camps a "makeover" Only eight per cent of the population in Southern Xinjiang belongs to Han Chinese community, which is seen as a security concern, Zenz wrote in the 22-page report. Also read | As Chinese couples get approval for 3 kids, Uighur women still subjected to birth control horrors Therefore, "Increasing the Han population is seen as the number-one method to control southern Xinjiang and suppress the unrest that could be created by Uyghurs in resistance," Zenz said during an interview. China's policies are "designed to achieve assimilation [by] trying to neutralize, assimilate, and dilute the Uyghur population," added Zenz. A senior fellow in China Studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington also said that this policy is "a way to promote intermarriage, interethnic marriage, which is another way to dilute the Uyghurs," Radio Free Asia reported. "If you mix a lot of Han into an Uyghur community, that community changes. You can also justify a change in policy so that you no longer need to respect the minority language or religion because it's no longer mono-ethnic, [but rather] multiethnic, " he added. Meanwhile, the Uyghur population in Afghanistan fears that they will be extradited to China after the Taliban takeover of the war-ravaged country. Earlier in August, a US-based research and advocacy group released a new report documenting the complicity of Pakistan and Afghanistan in China's transnational repression of Uyghurs. The report by Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) and the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (Oxus), discerns different methods used by the Chinese government against Uyghur communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

China imposes 'population optimisation strategy' to shrink Uyghurs in Xinjiang

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call to Chinese President Xi Jinping said Uyghur Turks should live in prosperity and peace as "equal citizens" of China.

Turkey president's call comes as UN Human Rights Council members last month had voiced concern over China's actions in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-demands-over-xinjiang-unacceptable-says-china-395373">Xinjiang</a>, Hong Kong and Tibet.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/imran-khan-pak-accepts-chinese-version-of-treatment-of-uighurs-in-xinjiang-395261/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Canada's ambassador Leslie Norton had openly hit out against the alleged human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

At least 40,000 Uyghurs live in Turkey. Several <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/youtube-takes-down-xinjiang-videos-forcing-rights-group-to-seek-alternative-394014">Uyghurs</a> had protesters against China during foreign minister Wang Yi's visit to the country in March.

"Erdogan pointed out that it was important for Turkey that Uyghur Turks live in prosperity and peace as equal citizens of China. He voiced Turkey's respect for China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the president's&nbsp;office said in a statement.

China has faced international criticism over its policies in Xinjiang even as the US administration has accused Beijing of committing genocide. Reports say at least one million Uyghurs have been held in camps in Xinjiang.

Meanwhile, the US State Department said on Tuesday that businesses and individuals who do not exit supply chains linked to Xinjiang could run the risk of violating US law.

Last week the Biden administration had blacklisted 14 Chinese companies and entities over alleged human rights abuses and surveillance in Xinjiang.

China has consistently denied reports of human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The US in its advisory has said that China continues "horrific abuses" in Xinjiang.

The Biden administration also added that the Xi regime&nbsp;has also been "targeting Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, and ethnic Kyrgyz who are predominantly Muslim, and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups."

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call to Chinese President Xi Jinping said Uyghur Turks should live in prosperity and peace as "equal citizens" of China.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call to Chinese President Xi Jinping said Uyghur Turks should live in prosperity and peace as "equal citizens" of China. Turkey president's call comes as UN Human Rights Council members last month had voiced concern over China's actions in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet. Watch: Canada's ambassador Leslie Norton had openly hit out against the alleged human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. At least 40,000 Uyghurs live in Turkey. Several Uyghurs had protesters against China during foreign minister Wang Yi's visit to the country in March. "Erdogan pointed out that it was important for Turkey that Uyghur Turks live in prosperity and peace as equal citizens of China. He voiced Turkey's respect for China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the president's office said in a statement. China has faced international criticism over its policies in Xinjiang even as the US administration has accused Beijing of committing genocide. Reports say at least one million Uyghurs have been held in camps in Xinjiang. Meanwhile, the US State Department said on Tuesday that businesses and individuals who do not exit supply chains linked to Xinjiang could run the risk of violating US law. Last week the Biden administration had blacklisted 14 Chinese companies and entities over alleged human rights abuses and surveillance in Xinjiang. China has consistently denied reports of human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The US in its advisory has said that China continues "horrific abuses" in Xinjiang. The Biden administration also added that the Xi regime has also been "targeting Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, and ethnic Kyrgyz who are predominantly Muslim, and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups." (With inputs from Agencies)

Uyghur Turks should live in peace as equal citizens of China: Erdogan to President Xi Jinping

The Biden administration on Friday imposed sanctions against 34 companies and entities linked to China's military and policy towards the Uyghur minority including those involved with allowing exports to Russia and Iran.

The US Commerce Department said the sanctions were imposed for their "involvement in, or risk of becoming involved in, activities contrary to the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States."

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-what-is-china-doing-with-your-childs-gene-data-396826/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The US Commerce Department imposed sanctions against eight entities for exporting US technology to Iran with seven others sanctioned for their involvement with Russia's military.

Fourteen China-based&nbsp;companies were blacklisted for their role towards Uyghurs and five others for assisting China's military to acquire lasers.

The US said, "China continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity."&nbsp;

The US Commerce Department had earlier added five Chinese entities to the blacklist over allegations of forced labour practices against minority groups in Xinjiang.

The US administration had targeted Chinese-based solar panel&nbsp;firm Hoshine Silicon Industry including other firms.

The US government said it was part of its effort at taking strong action against China’s ongoing campaign of repression against Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang.

Ahead of the sanctions, China said it will take "necessary measures" to safeguard the rights and interests of Chinese companies.

(With inputs from Agencies)&nbsp;

The Biden administration on Friday imposed sanctions against 34 companies and entities linked to China's military and policy towards the Uyghur minority including those involved with allowing exports to Russia and Iran.

The Biden administration on Friday imposed sanctions against 34 companies and entities linked to China's military and policy towards the Uyghur minority including those involved with allowing exports to Russia and Iran. The US Commerce Department said the sanctions were imposed for their "involvement in, or risk of becoming involved in, activities contrary to the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States." Watch: The US Commerce Department imposed sanctions against eight entities for exporting US technology to Iran with seven others sanctioned for their involvement with Russia's military. Fourteen China-based companies were blacklisted for their role towards Uyghurs and five others for assisting China's military to acquire lasers. The US said, "China continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity." The US Commerce Department had earlier added five Chinese entities to the blacklist over allegations of forced labour practices against minority groups in Xinjiang. The US administration had targeted Chinese-based solar panel firm Hoshine Silicon Industry including other firms. The US government said it was part of its effort at taking strong action against China’s ongoing campaign of repression against Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang. Ahead of the sanctions, China said it will take "necessary measures" to safeguard the rights and interests of Chinese companies. (With inputs from Agencies)

US sanctions 34 companies with links to China's Uyghur policy, ties with Iran, Russia

A new study has revealed that China’s popularity in developed countries has seen a major fall due to the way the country has been treating minority groups and the excessive restrictions on freedom and human rights.

The research was conducted by Pew Research Center where experts gathered opinions of 18,850 people from Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the UK, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-bill-delayed-in-us-house-amid-partisan-wrangling-395459" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/china-bill-delayed-in-us-house-amid-partisan-wrangling-395459&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjo5fylt8bxAhWlzDgGHe07DBcQFjAAegQICRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw37IwFio8EMGan-ETd3aVF3" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-bill-delayed-in-us-house-amid-partisan-wrangling-395459" target="_blank">China&nbsp;bill delayed in US House amid partisan wrangling</a>

Experts observed that the unfavourable views towards China are at a record-high in Sweden, Australia, South Korea and the US. Additionally, the negative attitude towards the Asian countries is constantly increasing in Australia, Canada and the UK due to bilateral tensions in 2020 under the Xi Jinping government.

Except for Singapore and Greece, where 64 per cent and 52 per cent of people hold favourable views about China respectively, no other participant country has crossed the threshold of 40 per cent in terms of holding favourable views about China.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-communist-partys-sauce-for-success-booming-economy-ruthlessness-ideological-agility-395508">Chinese Communist Party's sauce for success: Booming economy, ruthlessness, ideological agility</a>&nbsp;

The reason behind this wave of negative outlook towards China is Xi Jinping's government’s attitude towards the freedom of its citizens and human rights. A large number of people believe China fails to provide and respect the freedom to its own people. With an exception of Singapore (where only 60 per cent population feels this way), in all other countries at least 80 per cent of people believe China practises poor freedom and rights.

In addition to this, the majority of the participants have no confidence in the Chinese President Xi Jinping with regards to doing the right thing in world affairs. China’s popularity has suffered majorly due to the coronavirus pandemic that allegedly originated from a lab in Wuhan.

A new study has revealed that China’s popularity in developed countries has seen a major fall due to the way the country has been treating minority groups and the excessive restrictions on freedom and human rights.

A new study has revealed that China’s popularity in developed countries has seen a major fall due to the way the country has been treating minority groups and the excessive restrictions on freedom and human rights. The research was conducted by Pew Research Center where experts gathered opinions of 18,850 people from Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the UK, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Also read | China bill delayed in US House amid partisan wrangling Experts observed that the unfavourable views towards China are at a record-high in Sweden, Australia, South Korea and the US. Additionally, the negative attitude towards the Asian countries is constantly increasing in Australia, Canada and the UK due to bilateral tensions in 2020 under the Xi Jinping government. Except for Singapore and Greece, where 64 per cent and 52 per cent of people hold favourable views about China respectively, no other participant country has crossed the threshold of 40 per cent in terms of holding favourable views about China. Also read | Chinese Communist Party's sauce for success: Booming economy, ruthlessness, ideological agility The reason behind this wave of negative outlook towards China is Xi Jinping's government’s attitude towards the freedom of its citizens and human rights. A large number of people believe China fails to provide and respect the freedom to its own people. With an exception of Singapore (where only 60 per cent population feels this way), in all other countries at least 80 per cent of people believe China practises poor freedom and rights. In addition to this, the majority of the participants have no confidence in the Chinese President Xi Jinping with regards to doing the right thing in world affairs. China’s popularity has suffered majorly due to the coronavirus pandemic that allegedly originated from a lab in Wuhan.

China's poor attitude towards human rights results in decline in popularity in developed countries: Study

Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, continues to respond with a dead bat to practically every criticism of one of his country's closest partners, China.

In an interview with Axios's Jonathan Swan last week, the cricketer-turned-politician deftly avoided criticising China's persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

When asked about human rights violations in Xinjiang, Khan responded that "this is not the situation".&nbsp;

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/jonathanvswan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jonathanvswan</a> presses Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on why he’s outspoken against Islamophobia in the West but silent about the genocide of Muslim Uyghurs in western China. 
 
Khan: I concentrate on what is happening on my border. 
 
Swan: This is on your border. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AxiosOnHBO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AxiosOnHBO</a> <a href="https://t.co/QdLfY1qXGL">pic.twitter.com/QdLfY1qXGL</a>
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Khan went on to say that he doesn't comment on what's going on in other countries because he's more concerned with what's going on in his own nation and along his border, before adding that the situation in Kashmir is "far more relevant" than what's going on with the Uyghurs.&nbsp; 
 
Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: China's Treatment Of Uighurs: Imran Khan Still Plays Ignorant

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-imran-khan-still-plays-ignorant-254837/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Imran Khan has long aspired to be one of the Muslim world's most recognised leaders. He has been leading a public fight in the West, particularly in Europe, against Islamophobia. Khan gave a stunning statement at the United Nations against Islamophobia and published an open letter inviting other Muslim leaders to join him in his battle.&nbsp;

Despite his efforts on behalf of the Muslim world, he has been completely silent on China's imprisonment of over a million Uyghur Muslim minorities.

This confinement is part of China's policy of forced assimilation, forced labour, and sterilisation, which the United States and numerous Western countries have labelled genocide.&nbsp;

In an interview with a TV channel in 2019, calling China as Pakistan's "best friend", Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had said he doesn't know much about the situation of persecuted Uyghurs Muslims in China.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/dont-know-much-about-imran-khan-on-situation-of-uighurs-muslims-in-china-249715">Also read | 'Don't know much about': Imran Khan on the situation of Uighurs Muslims in China</a>

China has often been accused of widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Up to 2 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are believed to have been placed in mass detention centres in the region, according to the US State Department. These people have allegedly been subject to indoctrination and abuse.

Beijing, however, claims that these centres are voluntary and provide vocational training as part of a de-radicalisation programme in Xinjiang.

Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, continues to respond with a dead bat to practically every criticism of one of his country's closest partners, China. In an interview with Axios's Jonathan Swan last week, the cricketer-turned-politician deftly avoided criticising China's persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, continues to respond with a dead bat to practically every criticism of one of his country's closest partners, China. In an interview with Axios's Jonathan Swan last week, the cricketer-turned-politician deftly avoided criticising China's persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region. When asked about human rights violations in Xinjiang, Khan responded that "this is not the situation". .@jonathanvswan presses Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on why he’s outspoken against Islamophobia in the West but silent about the genocide of Muslim Uyghurs in western China. Khan: I concentrate on what is happening on my border. Swan: This is on your border. #AxiosOnHBO pic.twitter.com/QdLfY1qXGL — Axios (@axios) June 20, 2021 × Khan went on to say that he doesn't comment on what's going on in other countries because he's more concerned with what's going on in his own nation and along his border, before adding that the situation in Kashmir is "far more relevant" than what's going on with the Uyghurs. Watch | Gravitas: China's Treatment Of Uighurs: Imran Khan Still Plays Ignorant Imran Khan has long aspired to be one of the Muslim world's most recognised leaders. He has been leading a public fight in the West, particularly in Europe, against Islamophobia. Khan gave a stunning statement at the United Nations against Islamophobia and published an open letter inviting other Muslim leaders to join him in his battle. Despite his efforts on behalf of the Muslim world, he has been completely silent on China's imprisonment of over a million Uyghur Muslim minorities. This confinement is part of China's policy of forced assimilation, forced labour, and sterilisation, which the United States and numerous Western countries have labelled genocide. In an interview with a TV channel in 2019, calling China as Pakistan's "best friend", Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had said he doesn't know much about the situation of persecuted Uyghurs Muslims in China. Also read | 'Don't know much about': Imran Khan on the situation of Uighurs Muslims in China China has often been accused of widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Up to 2 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are believed to have been placed in mass detention centres in the region, according to the US State Department. These people have allegedly been subject to indoctrination and abuse. Beijing, however, claims that these centres are voluntary and provide vocational training as part of a de-radicalisation programme in Xinjiang.

Watch: Pakistan PM refuses to criticise China’s Uyghur abuse after decrying Islamophobia elsewhere

China on Thursday passed a law which may become its weapon in countering foreign sanctions in future. China is currently facing pressure from the United States and the European Union over trade, technology, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

As per the law Individuals or entities involved in making or implementing discriminatory measures against Chinese citizens or entities could be put on an anti-sanctions list by a "relevant department" in the Chinese government.

Those who are in the list may be denied entry into China or be expelled from China. Their assets within China may be seized or frozen. They could be restricted from doing business with entities or people within China.

The new law is China's most wide-ranging legal tool which it can use to retaliate against foreign sanctions. The law is intended to give China's retaliatory measures more legitimacy and predictability.

Foreign companies, however, worry about the dampening impact it might have on foreign investment.

China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC) standing committee passed the law on Thursday, according to state television CCTV.

All 14 vice-chairpersons of the committee are under U.S. sanctions for passing the National Security Law last year that critics say has crippled political freedoms in Hong Kong. Beijing says it was needed to restore stability in the city.

President Xi Jinping called last November for the ruling Communist Party to use legal means to defend China's sovereignty, security and interests against foreign parties.

The NPC said in its annual work report in March that it wants to "upgrade our legal toolbox" to address the risks from foreign sanctions and interference.&nbsp;

In January, the commerce ministry announced mechanisms to assess if foreign restrictions on Chinese trade and business activities were justified, and for Chinese individuals or companies to sue for compensation in a Chinese court.

The United States and its allies have increasingly sanctioned Chinese officials to express concern about how China treats its Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang and pro-democracy activities in Hong Kong, triggering counter-sanctions by China on U.S. and EU politicians and officials.

Washington has also targeted Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE for violating U.S. sanctions on Iran or North Korea, an act China called "long-arm jurisdiction".

(With inputs from agencies)

China on Thursday passed a law which may become its weapon in countering foreign sanctions in future. China is currently facing pressure from the United States and the European Union over trade, technology, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

China on Thursday passed a law which may become its weapon in countering foreign sanctions in future. China is currently facing pressure from the United States and the European Union over trade, technology, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. As per the law Individuals or entities involved in making or implementing discriminatory measures against Chinese citizens or entities could be put on an anti-sanctions list by a "relevant department" in the Chinese government. Those who are in the list may be denied entry into China or be expelled from China. Their assets within China may be seized or frozen. They could be restricted from doing business with entities or people within China. The new law is China's most wide-ranging legal tool which it can use to retaliate against foreign sanctions. The law is intended to give China's retaliatory measures more legitimacy and predictability. Foreign companies, however, worry about the dampening impact it might have on foreign investment. China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC) standing committee passed the law on Thursday, according to state television CCTV. All 14 vice-chairpersons of the committee are under U.S. sanctions for passing the National Security Law last year that critics say has crippled political freedoms in Hong Kong. Beijing says it was needed to restore stability in the city. President Xi Jinping called last November for the ruling Communist Party to use legal means to defend China's sovereignty, security and interests against foreign parties. The NPC said in its annual work report in March that it wants to "upgrade our legal toolbox" to address the risks from foreign sanctions and interference. In January, the commerce ministry announced mechanisms to assess if foreign restrictions on Chinese trade and business activities were justified, and for Chinese individuals or companies to sue for compensation in a Chinese court. The United States and its allies have increasingly sanctioned Chinese officials to express concern about how China treats its Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang and pro-democracy activities in Hong Kong, triggering counter-sanctions by China on U.S. and EU politicians and officials. Washington has also targeted Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE for violating U.S. sanctions on Iran or North Korea, an act China called "long-arm jurisdiction". (With inputs from agencies)

China passes law to tackle international sanctions

Chinese birth control policies could cut between 2.6 to 4.5 million births of the Uyghur and other ethnic minorities in southern Xinjiang within 20 years, up to a third of the region’s projected minority population, according to a new analysis by a German researcher. 
 
The report, shared exclusively with Reuters ahead of publication, also includes a previously unreported cache of research produced by Chinese academics and officials on Beijing’s intent behind the birth control policies in Xinjiang, where official data shows birth-rates have already dropped by 48.7% between 2017 and 2019. 
 
Adrian Zenz’s research comes amid growing calls among some western countries for an investigation into whether China’s actions in Xinjiang amount to genocide, a charge Beijing vehemently denies. 
 
The research by Zenz is the first such peer reviewed analysis of the long-term population impact of Beijing’s multi-year crackdown in the western region. Rights groups, researchers and some residents say the policies include newly enforced birth limits on Uyghur and other mainly Muslim ethnic minorities, the transfers of workers to other regions and the internment of an estimated one million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in a network of camps. 
 
"This (research and analysis) really shows the intent behind the Chinese government’s long-term plan for the Uyghur population,” Zenz told Reuters. 
 
The Chinese government has not made public any official target for reducing the proportion of Uyghur and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. But based on analysis of official birth data, demographic projections and ethnic ratios proposed by Chinese academics and officials, Zenz estimates Beijing’s policies could increase the predominant Han Chinese population in southern Xinjiang to around 25% from 8.4% currently. 
 
"This goal is only achievable if they do what they have been doing, which is drastically suppressing (Uyghur) birth rates,” Zenz said. 
 
China has previously said the current drop in ethnic minority birth rates is due to the full implementation of the region’s existing birth quotas as well as development factors, including an increase in per capita income and wider access to family planning services. 
 
"The so-called ‘genocide’ in Xinjiang is pure nonsense,” China’s Foreign Ministry told Reuters in a statement. "It is a manifestation of the ulterior motives of anti-China forces in the United States and the West and the manifestation of those who suffer from Sinophobia." 
 
Official data showing the decrease in Xinjiang birth rates between 2017 and 2019 “does not reflect the true situation” and Uyghur birth rates remain higher than Han ethnic people in Xinjiang, the ministry added.&nbsp; 
 
The new research compares a population projection done by Xinjiang-based researchers for the government-run Chinese Academy of Sciences based on data predating the crackdown, to official data on birth-rates and what Beijing describes as “population optimization” measures for Xinjiang’s ethnic minorities introduced since 2017. 
 
It found the population of ethnic minorities in Uyghur-dominated southern Xinjiang would reach between 8.6-10.5 million by 2040 under the new birth prevention policies. That compares to 13.14 million projected by Chinese researchers using data pre-dating the implemented birth policies and a current population of around 9.47 million. 
 
Zenz, an independent researcher with the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, a bipartisan non-profit based in Washington, DC, has previously been condemned by Beijing for his research which has been critical of China’s policies on detaining Uyghurs, mass labour transfers and birth reduction in Xinjiang. 
 
China’s foreign ministry has accused Zenz of 'misleading' people with data and, in response to Reuters’ questions, said, “his lies aren’t worth refuting.” 
 
Zenz’s research was accepted for publication by the Central Asian Survey, a quarterly academic&nbsp;journal,&nbsp;after peer review on June 3. 
 
Reuters shared the research and methodology with more than a dozen experts in population analysis, birth prevention policies and international human rights law, who said the analysis and conclusions were sound. 
 
Some of the experts cautioned that demographic projections over a period of decades can be affected by unforeseen factors. The Xinjiang government has not publicly set official ethnic quota or population size goals for ethnic populations in Southern Xinjiang, and quotas used in the analysis are based on proposed figures from Chinese officials and academics.&nbsp;

Chinese birth control policies could cut between 2.6 to 4.5 million births of the Uyghur and other ethnic minorities in southern Xinjiang within 20 years, up to a third of the region’s projected minority population, according to a new analysis by a German researcher.

Chinese birth control policies could cut between 2.6 to 4.5 million births of the Uyghur and other ethnic minorities in southern Xinjiang within 20 years, up to a third of the region’s projected minority population, according to a new analysis by a German researcher. The report, shared exclusively with Reuters ahead of publication, also includes a previously unreported cache of research produced by Chinese academics and officials on Beijing’s intent behind the birth control policies in Xinjiang, where official data shows birth-rates have already dropped by 48.7% between 2017 and 2019. Adrian Zenz’s research comes amid growing calls among some western countries for an investigation into whether China’s actions in Xinjiang amount to genocide, a charge Beijing vehemently denies. The research by Zenz is the first such peer reviewed analysis of the long-term population impact of Beijing’s multi-year crackdown in the western region. Rights groups, researchers and some residents say the policies include newly enforced birth limits on Uyghur and other mainly Muslim ethnic minorities, the transfers of workers to other regions and the internment of an estimated one million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in a network of camps. "This (research and analysis) really shows the intent behind the Chinese government’s long-term plan for the Uyghur population,” Zenz told Reuters. The Chinese government has not made public any official target for reducing the proportion of Uyghur and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. But based on analysis of official birth data, demographic projections and ethnic ratios proposed by Chinese academics and officials, Zenz estimates Beijing’s policies could increase the predominant Han Chinese population in southern Xinjiang to around 25% from 8.4% currently. "This goal is only achievable if they do what they have been doing, which is drastically suppressing (Uyghur) birth rates,” Zenz said. China has previously said the current drop in ethnic minority birth rates is due to the full implementation of the region’s existing birth quotas as well as development factors, including an increase in per capita income and wider access to family planning services. "The so-called ‘genocide’ in Xinjiang is pure nonsense,” China’s Foreign Ministry told Reuters in a statement. "It is a manifestation of the ulterior motives of anti-China forces in the United States and the West and the manifestation of those who suffer from Sinophobia." Official data showing the decrease in Xinjiang birth rates between 2017 and 2019 “does not reflect the true situation” and Uyghur birth rates remain higher than Han ethnic people in Xinjiang, the ministry added. The new research compares a population projection done by Xinjiang-based researchers for the government-run Chinese Academy of Sciences based on data predating the crackdown, to official data on birth-rates and what Beijing describes as “population optimization” measures for Xinjiang’s ethnic minorities introduced since 2017. It found the population of ethnic minorities in Uyghur-dominated southern Xinjiang would reach between 8.6-10.5 million by 2040 under the new birth prevention policies. That compares to 13.14 million projected by Chinese researchers using data pre-dating the implemented birth policies and a current population of around 9.47 million. Zenz, an independent researcher with the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, a bipartisan non-profit based in Washington, DC, has previously been condemned by Beijing for his research which has been critical of China’s policies on detaining Uyghurs, mass labour transfers and birth reduction in Xinjiang. China’s foreign ministry has accused Zenz of 'misleading' people with data and, in response to Reuters’ questions, said, “his lies aren’t worth refuting.” Zenz’s research was accepted for publication by the Central Asian Survey, a quarterly academic journal, after peer review on June 3. Reuters shared the research and methodology with more than a dozen experts in population analysis, birth prevention policies and international human rights law, who said the analysis and conclusions were sound. Some of the experts cautioned that demographic projections over a period of decades can be affected by unforeseen factors. The Xinjiang government has not publicly set official ethnic quota or population size goals for ethnic populations in Southern Xinjiang, and quotas used in the analysis are based on proposed figures from Chinese officials and academics.

Amid accusations of genocide from the West, China policies could cut millions of Uyghur births in Xinjiang: Report

Solar panels are a good way to contribute to reversing the effects of climate change. However, a recent report has claimed the manufacturing of these solar panels might not be good for human rights.

A study by the UK’s Sheffield Hallam University reports the majority of the solar panel manufacturing is being done by the forced labour of the Uighur community in China’s Xinjiang area.

As per the report, nearly 45 per cent of the polysilicon manufacturers are based out of the Xinjiang area of China, where the Uighur community is allegedly tied in forced labour by the Chinese government.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-gets-cornered-on-xinjiang-deploys-imams-for-defence-384841" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/china-gets-cornered-on-xinjiang-deploys-imams-for-defence-384841&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiYoaG08MvwAhVezjgGHSuFD-IQFjAAegQIARAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1gCJ8h_8viKuiEa-LcdGdV" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-gets-cornered-on-xinjiang-deploys-imams-for-defence-384841" target="_blank">China gets cornered on&nbsp;Xinjiang, deploys imams for defence</a>

The researchers claimed the Chinese government is making the Uighur labour work in "an environment of unprecedented coercion, undergirded by the constant threat of re-education and internment," the report reads.

Experts have also alleged that many of the manufacturing companies are benefitting from the companies and authorities that employ the minority groups in absolute inhumane conditions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/birth-rate-fell-in-xinjiang-after-implementation-of-birth-control-policies-report-384655">Birth rate fell in Xinjiang after implementation of birth control policies: Report</a>

It "determined that many of the major Chinese producers of raw materials, solar-grade polysilicon, ingots and wafers integral to solar module manufacturing are operating facilities in the region that have employed forced labour transfers of the indigenous people of the region, and that many of these manufacturers have beneficial relationships with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps," the report alleged.

"These manufacturers’ adoption of compulsory labour has a significant impact on downstream producers of solar modules and for the governments, developers, and consumers who buy them," it added.

In the report, the experts have identified at least 90 Chinese and other international companies with ties to forced labour. The aim of the report, as per the researchers, is to urge these companies to procure the material from some other place, rather than encouraging forced labour by associating their supply chain to the Xinjiang area.

The examples and facts stated in the report "are meant to provide stakeholders with the evidence based upon which to judge risk of exposure to forced labour in the solar supply chain," experts said.

Solar panels are a good way to contribute to reversing the effects of climate change. However, a recent report has claimed the manufacturing of these solar panels might not be good for human rights.

Solar panels are a good way to contribute to reversing the effects of climate change. However, a recent report has claimed the manufacturing of these solar panels might not be good for human rights. A study by the UK’s Sheffield Hallam University reports the majority of the solar panel manufacturing is being done by the forced labour of the Uighur community in China’s Xinjiang area. As per the report, nearly 45 per cent of the polysilicon manufacturers are based out of the Xinjiang area of China, where the Uighur community is allegedly tied in forced labour by the Chinese government. Also read | China gets cornered on Xinjiang, deploys imams for defence The researchers claimed the Chinese government is making the Uighur labour work in "an environment of unprecedented coercion, undergirded by the constant threat of re-education and internment," the report reads. Experts have also alleged that many of the manufacturing companies are benefitting from the companies and authorities that employ the minority groups in absolute inhumane conditions. Also read | Birth rate fell in Xinjiang after implementation of birth control policies: Report It "determined that many of the major Chinese producers of raw materials, solar-grade polysilicon, ingots and wafers integral to solar module manufacturing are operating facilities in the region that have employed forced labour transfers of the indigenous people of the region, and that many of these manufacturers have beneficial relationships with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps," the report alleged. "These manufacturers’ adoption of compulsory labour has a significant impact on downstream producers of solar modules and for the governments, developers, and consumers who buy them," it added. In the report, the experts have identified at least 90 Chinese and other international companies with ties to forced labour. The aim of the report, as per the researchers, is to urge these companies to procure the material from some other place, rather than encouraging forced labour by associating their supply chain to the Xinjiang area. The examples and facts stated in the report "are meant to provide stakeholders with the evidence based upon which to judge risk of exposure to forced labour in the solar supply chain," experts said.

Solar panel manufacturing linked to forced labour of Uighur in Xinjiang

China's foreign ministry on Thursday&nbsp;said a report by an Australian think tank citing coercive policies attributing to a sharp decline in Uyghur birth rates aims to "fabricate data and distort the facts".

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) report, citing official Chinese data, said in a report released on Wednesday&nbsp;that there has been an "unprecedented and precipitous drop in official birth rates in Xinjiang since 2017," when China began a campaign to control birth rates in the region.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-rape-experimentation-the-uighur-camp-reality-383573/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Xinjiang's birth rate dropped by nearly half from 2017 to 2019, and counties where the population was predominately of Uyghur or another minority group saw much sharper declines than other counties, the government-funded institute said in the report.

ASPI "fabricates data and distorts facts," Hua Chunying, China's foreign ministry spokeswoman, told a daily news briefing in Beijing on Thursday. Xinjiang's Uyghur population grew faster than that of the Han between 2010 and 2018, and Xinjiang's birth control policies do not target any single ethnic minority group, she said.

Western states and rights groups accuse Xinjiang authorities of detaining and torturing Uyghurs and other minorities in camps. Beijing denies the accusations and describes the camps as vocational training facilities to combat religious extremism.

The United States, Germany and Britain clashed with China at the United Nations on Wednesday over the treatment of Uyghurs, angering Beijing by hosting a virtual event that China had lobbied UN&nbsp;member states to stay away from.

In a note to UN&nbsp;member states last week, China's UN&nbsp;mission rejected the accusations as "lies and false allegations" and accused the organizers of being "obsessed with provoking confrontation with China."

(With inputs from agencies)

China's foreign ministry on Thursday said a report by an Australian think tank citing coercive policies attributing to a sharp decline in Uyghur birth rates aims to "fabricate data and distort the facts".

China's foreign ministry on Thursday said a report by an Australian think tank citing coercive policies attributing to a sharp decline in Uyghur birth rates aims to "fabricate data and distort the facts". The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) report, citing official Chinese data, said in a report released on Wednesday that there has been an "unprecedented and precipitous drop in official birth rates in Xinjiang since 2017," when China began a campaign to control birth rates in the region. Xinjiang's birth rate dropped by nearly half from 2017 to 2019, and counties where the population was predominately of Uyghur or another minority group saw much sharper declines than other counties, the government-funded institute said in the report. ASPI "fabricates data and distorts facts," Hua Chunying, China's foreign ministry spokeswoman, told a daily news briefing in Beijing on Thursday. Xinjiang's Uyghur population grew faster than that of the Han between 2010 and 2018, and Xinjiang's birth control policies do not target any single ethnic minority group, she said. Western states and rights groups accuse Xinjiang authorities of detaining and torturing Uyghurs and other minorities in camps. Beijing denies the accusations and describes the camps as vocational training facilities to combat religious extremism. The United States, Germany and Britain clashed with China at the United Nations on Wednesday over the treatment of Uyghurs, angering Beijing by hosting a virtual event that China had lobbied UN member states to stay away from. In a note to UN member states last week, China's UN mission rejected the accusations as "lies and false allegations" and accused the organizers of being "obsessed with provoking confrontation with China." (With inputs from agencies)

China says think tank report on Uyghur birth rates decline 'fabricates data'

Adding to concerns about the inhumane treatment of the Uighur community in Xinjiang, new research has claimed that birth rates have fallen in the Chinese region by almost half in the past two years.

The figures have seen a decline in the birth rates after the Chinese government implemented policies to reduce the number of babies born in the Uighur and other Muslim minority communities in the area.

This research was conducted by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and claims the decline in numbers is more extreme than any seen in any global region in the past 71 years of UN fertility data collection, which also includes periods of genocides in Rwanda and Cambodia.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xinjiang-internment-camps-sister-of-uighur-rights-advocate-rebiya-kadeer-dies-after-release-from-detention-384643">Xinjiang internment camps: Sister of Uighur rights advocate Rebiya Kadeer dies after release from detention</a>

Through this research, the issue of women of the Xinjiang region being forced to take birth control measures by the Chinese government has hit the surface again.

Nathan Ruser and James Leibold, the authors of this report, used publicly available data by the Chinese government. They created a dataset of birthrates from 2011 to 2019 and then compared birthrates of different counties with those of the Uighur and other Muslim communities.

They used data to compare the time period before, during, and after the Chinese government implemented their campaign against "illegal births" in 2017.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-forced-uighur-labour-making-your-favourite-apple-products-384385">Watch |</a>

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As per the data, the birthrate in the Xinjiang community fell by 48.7 between 2017 and 2019. The birthrate dropped by at least 90 per cent in regions where the population was majorly non-Han Chinese.

"Previous research by both Chinese and foreign experts has examined the tightening of birth control policy in Xinjiang and a corresponding drop in natural population growth beginning in 2015, but even more dramatically after 2017," the report said.

In April, the Human Rights Watch had concluded through a report that the Chinese government was committing crimes against humanity by ill-treating the minority communities and forcing women to take unsafe birth control measures to control the population boom from these groups. However, the group had also said that this alarming conclusion can be completely believed only after a little more investigation.

This report has identified this as "an increasingly urgent problem and source of perceived instability, literally a breeding ground for the ‘three evil forces' of extremism, terrorism and splitism".

Researchers have also stressed that these inhumane practises are mainly aimed at the Uighur and Xinjiang communities, rather than all minority groups. "One thing we found is that in other provinces of similarly high minority populations … the birthrate climbed by about 3% in the last decade," Ruser said. "So these policies seem to be very deliberately targeted towards the community of Xinjiang and the Uighur community. When they talk about those general minority figures, I think you have to keep in mind there are 55 other minorities."

Adding to concerns about the inhumane treatment of the Uighur community in Xinjiang, new research has claimed that birth rates have fallen in the Chinese region by almost half in the past two years.

Adding to concerns about the inhumane treatment of the Uighur community in Xinjiang, new research has claimed that birth rates have fallen in the Chinese region by almost half in the past two years. The figures have seen a decline in the birth rates after the Chinese government implemented policies to reduce the number of babies born in the Uighur and other Muslim minority communities in the area. This research was conducted by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and claims the decline in numbers is more extreme than any seen in any global region in the past 71 years of UN fertility data collection, which also includes periods of genocides in Rwanda and Cambodia. Also read | Xinjiang internment camps: Sister of Uighur rights advocate Rebiya Kadeer dies after release from detention Through this research, the issue of women of the Xinjiang region being forced to take birth control measures by the Chinese government has hit the surface again. Nathan Ruser and James Leibold, the authors of this report, used publicly available data by the Chinese government. They created a dataset of birthrates from 2011 to 2019 and then compared birthrates of different counties with those of the Uighur and other Muslim communities. They used data to compare the time period before, during, and after the Chinese government implemented their campaign against "illegal births" in 2017. Watch | As per the data, the birthrate in the Xinjiang community fell by 48.7 between 2017 and 2019. The birthrate dropped by at least 90 per cent in regions where the population was majorly non-Han Chinese. "Previous research by both Chinese and foreign experts has examined the tightening of birth control policy in Xinjiang and a corresponding drop in natural population growth beginning in 2015, but even more dramatically after 2017," the report said. In April, the Human Rights Watch had concluded through a report that the Chinese government was committing crimes against humanity by ill-treating the minority communities and forcing women to take unsafe birth control measures to control the population boom from these groups. However, the group had also said that this alarming conclusion can be completely believed only after a little more investigation. This report has identified this as "an increasingly urgent problem and source of perceived instability, literally a breeding ground for the ‘three evil forces' of extremism, terrorism and splitism". Researchers have also stressed that these inhumane practises are mainly aimed at the Uighur and Xinjiang communities, rather than all minority groups. "One thing we found is that in other provinces of similarly high minority populations … the birthrate climbed by about 3% in the last decade," Ruser said. "So these policies seem to be very deliberately targeted towards the community of Xinjiang and the Uighur community. When they talk about those general minority figures, I think you have to keep in mind there are 55 other minorities."

Birth rate fell in Xinjiang after implementation of birth control policies: Report

The US House of Representatives introduced a bipartisan resolution on Wednesday, strongly condemning China’s ill-treatment of the Uighur community and other minorities, especially in the Xinjiang region.

Labelling it as 'genocide', the authorities have urged US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> to refer these atrocities to the United Nations.

"The resolution calls upon President Biden to refer these atrocities to the United Nations for investigation under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide," the US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks and another member Michael McCaul said in a joint press release.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-slaps-sanctions-on-russia-expels-10-diplomats-377760" hreflang="en">US slaps sanctions on Russia over election interference, expels 10 diplomats</a>

Through this, the experts are seeking multilateral sanctions against the Chinese government in the UN Security Council (UNSC) to "bring the genocide to an end".

Meeks urged global solidarity against the ill treatment. "China's human rights violations against the Uighur community in Xinjiang are beyond the pale. The international community needs to stand together and condemn the horrific treatment of China's ethnic minorities, who have undergone mass detention and seen their way of life threatened," he said.

This has come a day after the Uighur Human Rights Protection Act&nbsp;was introduced by US Senators Marco Rubio and Chris Coons. Through this, people suffering in the region at the hands of the Chinese government would become eligible for US refugee status on a priority basis.

"The Uighur Human Rights Protection Act would make it easier for Uighurs and members of other Turkic or Muslim minority groups to apply for resettlement in the United States, and it encourages our allies and partners to implement similar policies," Coons had announced.

The US House of Representatives introduced a bipartisan resolution on Wednesday, strongly condemning China’s ill-treatment of the Uighur community and other minorities, especially in the Xinjiang region.

The US House of Representatives introduced a bipartisan resolution on Wednesday, strongly condemning China’s ill-treatment of the Uighur community and other minorities, especially in the Xinjiang region. Labelling it as 'genocide', the authorities have urged US President Joe Biden to refer these atrocities to the United Nations. "The resolution calls upon President Biden to refer these atrocities to the United Nations for investigation under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide," the US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks and another member Michael McCaul said in a joint press release. Also read | US slaps sanctions on Russia over election interference, expels 10 diplomats Through this, the experts are seeking multilateral sanctions against the Chinese government in the UN Security Council (UNSC) to "bring the genocide to an end". Meeks urged global solidarity against the ill treatment. "China's human rights violations against the Uighur community in Xinjiang are beyond the pale. The international community needs to stand together and condemn the horrific treatment of China's ethnic minorities, who have undergone mass detention and seen their way of life threatened," he said. This has come a day after the Uighur Human Rights Protection Act was introduced by US Senators Marco Rubio and Chris Coons. Through this, people suffering in the region at the hands of the Chinese government would become eligible for US refugee status on a priority basis. "The Uighur Human Rights Protection Act would make it easier for Uighurs and members of other Turkic or Muslim minority groups to apply for resettlement in the United States, and it encourages our allies and partners to implement similar policies," Coons had announced.

US House urges Biden to refer Uighur 'genocide' to United Nations

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday&nbsp;that the UN was in negotiation with China for a visit "without restrictions" to Xinjiang in order to see how Uyghur Muslims were being treated. He declared this in an interview broadcast.

At least one million Uyghurs and people from other mostly Muslim groups have been held in camps in the northwestern region, according to US and Australian rights groups, which accuse Chinese authorities of forcibly sterilizing women and imposing forced labor.

"A serious negotiation is at the present moment taking place between the Office of the (UN Human Rights) Commissioner and the Chinese authorities," Guterres told Canada's CBC television network.

"I hope that they will reach an agreement soon" to allow a visit "without restrictions or limitations," he added.

Guterres said the Chinese had repeatedly affirmed to him "that they want that mission to take place."

Guterres said he was also following "with concern" the fate of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who are being held prisoner in China on charges of espionage.

(With AFP inputs)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that the UN was in negotiation with China for a visit "without restrictions" to Xinjiang in order to see how Uyghur Muslims were being treated.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that the UN was in negotiation with China for a visit "without restrictions" to Xinjiang in order to see how Uyghur Muslims were being treated. He declared this in an interview broadcast. At least one million Uyghurs and people from other mostly Muslim groups have been held in camps in the northwestern region, according to US and Australian rights groups, which accuse Chinese authorities of forcibly sterilizing women and imposing forced labor. "A serious negotiation is at the present moment taking place between the Office of the (UN Human Rights) Commissioner and the Chinese authorities," Guterres told Canada's CBC television network. "I hope that they will reach an agreement soon" to allow a visit "without restrictions or limitations," he added. Guterres said the Chinese had repeatedly affirmed to him "that they want that mission to take place." Guterres said he was also following "with concern" the fate of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who are being held prisoner in China on charges of espionage. (With AFP inputs)

UN negotiating with China for unrestricted Xinjiang visit: Secretary General

China imposed sanctions on British lawmakers and lobby groups on Friday in a move that is likely widen the divide between China and Western powers. The West has been critical of China's alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang. The EU, UK, Canada and US imposed sanctions on number of members of Xinjiang's political and economic hierarchy earlier this week. This was co-ordinated action against alleged widespread abuse in China's northwestern region.

Sanctions imposed on Friday were against nine UK individuals and four entities. China said that they had "maliciously spread lies and disinformation" over Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs.

Those sanctioned included Iain Duncan Smith, former leader of Britain's Conservative party, as well as other lawmakers and four groups which have been vocal in driving rights in Xinjiang and Hong Kong onto Westminster's agenda.

Also on the list was a law firm that has taken up Uyghur rights causes.

All of the sanctioned parties will be barred from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, while their property in the country will be frozen, and Chinese citizens and institutions will be banned from dealings with them.

"The United Kingdom (UK) imposed unilateral sanctions on relevant Chinese individuals and entity, citing the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The move "severely undermines China-UK relations", it added, warning Britain "not go further down the wrong path".

Rights groups say that at least one million Uyghurs and people from other Muslim groups have been held in camps in Xinjiang. There are accusations of forcible sterilisation of women and forced labour.

Beijing insists Xinjiang is an "internal affair" and has gone into attack mode as Western opprobrium mounts, putting sanctions on individuals from the European Union and Britain who have taken up the Uyghur cause.

China has also started a PR war against several Western brands that operate inside China.

(With AFP inputs)

China imposed sanctions on British lawmakers and lobby groups on Friday in a move that is likely widen the divide between China and Western powers. The West has been critical of China's alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang.

China imposed sanctions on British lawmakers and lobby groups on Friday in a move that is likely widen the divide between China and Western powers. The West has been critical of China's alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang. The EU, UK, Canada and US imposed sanctions on number of members of Xinjiang's political and economic hierarchy earlier this week. This was co-ordinated action against alleged widespread abuse in China's northwestern region. Sanctions imposed on Friday were against nine UK individuals and four entities. China said that they had "maliciously spread lies and disinformation" over Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs. Those sanctioned included Iain Duncan Smith, former leader of Britain's Conservative party, as well as other lawmakers and four groups which have been vocal in driving rights in Xinjiang and Hong Kong onto Westminster's agenda. Also on the list was a law firm that has taken up Uyghur rights causes. All of the sanctioned parties will be barred from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, while their property in the country will be frozen, and Chinese citizens and institutions will be banned from dealings with them. "The United Kingdom (UK) imposed unilateral sanctions on relevant Chinese individuals and entity, citing the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. The move "severely undermines China-UK relations", it added, warning Britain "not go further down the wrong path". Rights groups say that at least one million Uyghurs and people from other Muslim groups have been held in camps in Xinjiang. There are accusations of forcible sterilisation of women and forced labour. Beijing insists Xinjiang is an "internal affair" and has gone into attack mode as Western opprobrium mounts, putting sanctions on individuals from the European Union and Britain who have taken up the Uyghur cause. China has also started a PR war against several Western brands that operate inside China. (With AFP inputs)

China imposes sanctions on UK individuals over Xinjiang

Fashion retailer H&amp;M is facing a potential boycott in China after a statement the company made last year expressing deep concerns over reports of forced labor in Xinjiang stirred a social media storm this week.

A similar statement from Nike was also attracting criticism on Wednesday, a sign that Western clothing manufacturers could face growing hostility in China for their public stances against forced labor in Xinjiang and for halting cotton sourcing from the region.

The H&amp;M statement, which can be found on the website of the Swedish retailer, was posted in September after growing global scrutiny around the use of Uyghurs in forced labor in Xinjiang.

In it, H&amp;M said that it was “deeply concerned by reports from civil society organizations and media that include accusations of forced labor and discrimination of ethno-religious minorities” in Xinjiang and that it had stopped buying cotton from growers in the region.

More than eight months later, in the wake of sanctions by Western countries against China for its treatment of Uyghurs, H&amp;M is facing online backlash from Chinese consumers. The outrage has been stoked by comments on platforms like the microblogging site Sina Weibo from celebrities and groups like the Communist Youth League, an influential Communist Party organization.

“Want to make money in China while spreading false rumors and boycotting Xinjiang cotton? Wishful thinking!” the group said in a post, echoing one of the People’s Liberation Army’s statements that called H&amp;M’s stance “ignorant and arrogant.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-which-global-brands-are-using-uighur-labour-373196">Watch |</a>

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On Monday, Britain, Canada, the European Union and the United States announced sanctions on Chinese officials in an escalating row over the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Roughly 1 in 5 cotton garments sold globally contains cotton or yarn from the region, where authorities have used coercive labor programs and mass internment to remold as many as 1 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other largely Muslim minorities into model workers obedient to the Communist Party.

Nike could be next. The company posted a statement on its website expressing concerns “about reports of forced labor in and connected to” Xinjiang. “Nike does not source products” from the region, and “we have confirmed with our contract suppliers that they are not using textiles or spun yarn from the region.”

On Wednesday, Nike was at the top of Weibo’s “hot search” list. Some users were furious that Nike had joined the boycott of cotton from the region. The company declined to comment.

Huang Xuan, a Chinese actor who had a menswear contract with H&amp;M, posted a statement saying he would quit the deal, adding that he opposed “slander and creating rumors” as well as “any attempt to discredit the country.” Singer and actress Victoria Song — who used to endorse H&amp;M — also released a statement, saying that she no longer had a relationship with the brand and that “national interests are above all else.”

By Wednesday evening, at least three major Chinese e-commerce platforms — Pinduoduo, Jingdong and Tmall — had removed H&amp;M from search results and withdrawn its products from sale. The actions underscored the pressures faced by foreign companies doing business in China while navigating political and cultural debates like the country’s sovereignty and its checkered human rights record.

On Wednesday night, H&amp;M China responded with a post on the Sina Weibo microblogging site, saying the company did not “represent any political position.”

“H&amp;M Group respects Chinese consumers as always,” the statement said. “We are committed to long-term investment and development in China.”

H&amp;M is the world’s second-largest fashion retailer by sales, after Inditex, the owner of Zara, and China is its fourth-biggest market.

State broadcaster CCTV criticized H&amp;M, and said it was “a miscalculation to try to play a righteous hero.” H&amp;M, it said, “will definitely pay a heavy price for its wrong action.”

Fashion retailer H&M is facing a potential boycott in China after a statement the company made last year expressing deep concerns over reports of forced labor in Xinjiang stirred a social media storm this week.

Fashion retailer H&M is facing a potential boycott in China after a statement the company made last year expressing deep concerns over reports of forced labor in Xinjiang stirred a social media storm this week. A similar statement from Nike was also attracting criticism on Wednesday, a sign that Western clothing manufacturers could face growing hostility in China for their public stances against forced labor in Xinjiang and for halting cotton sourcing from the region. The H&M statement, which can be found on the website of the Swedish retailer, was posted in September after growing global scrutiny around the use of Uyghurs in forced labor in Xinjiang. In it, H&M said that it was “deeply concerned by reports from civil society organizations and media that include accusations of forced labor and discrimination of ethno-religious minorities” in Xinjiang and that it had stopped buying cotton from growers in the region. More than eight months later, in the wake of sanctions by Western countries against China for its treatment of Uyghurs, H&M is facing online backlash from Chinese consumers. The outrage has been stoked by comments on platforms like the microblogging site Sina Weibo from celebrities and groups like the Communist Youth League, an influential Communist Party organization. “Want to make money in China while spreading false rumors and boycotting Xinjiang cotton? Wishful thinking!” the group said in a post, echoing one of the People’s Liberation Army’s statements that called H&M’s stance “ignorant and arrogant.” Watch | On Monday, Britain, Canada, the European Union and the United States announced sanctions on Chinese officials in an escalating row over the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Roughly 1 in 5 cotton garments sold globally contains cotton or yarn from the region, where authorities have used coercive labor programs and mass internment to remold as many as 1 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other largely Muslim minorities into model workers obedient to the Communist Party. Nike could be next. The company posted a statement on its website expressing concerns “about reports of forced labor in and connected to” Xinjiang. “Nike does not source products” from the region, and “we have confirmed with our contract suppliers that they are not using textiles or spun yarn from the region.” On Wednesday, Nike was at the top of Weibo’s “hot search” list. Some users were furious that Nike had joined the boycott of cotton from the region. The company declined to comment. Huang Xuan, a Chinese actor who had a menswear contract with H&M, posted a statement saying he would quit the deal, adding that he opposed “slander and creating rumors” as well as “any attempt to discredit the country.” Singer and actress Victoria Song — who used to endorse H&M — also released a statement, saying that she no longer had a relationship with the brand and that “national interests are above all else.” By Wednesday evening, at least three major Chinese e-commerce platforms — Pinduoduo, Jingdong and Tmall — had removed H&M from search results and withdrawn its products from sale. The actions underscored the pressures faced by foreign companies doing business in China while navigating political and cultural debates like the country’s sovereignty and its checkered human rights record. On Wednesday night, H&M China responded with a post on the Sina Weibo microblogging site, saying the company did not “represent any political position.” “H&M Group respects Chinese consumers as always,” the statement said. “We are committed to long-term investment and development in China.” H&M is the world’s second-largest fashion retailer by sales, after Inditex, the owner of Zara, and China is its fourth-biggest market. State broadcaster CCTV criticized H&M, and said it was “a miscalculation to try to play a righteous hero.” H&M, it said, “will definitely pay a heavy price for its wrong action.”

H&M faces boycott in China over stance on treatment of Uyghurs

Exiled journalists, human rights activists, and Uyghurs on Tuesday gathered at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) headquarters in Paris to persuade the anti-terror financing organisation to place Pakistan on the blacklist.&nbsp;

"We have gathered here outside the FATF building as it will be meeting next week to discuss and review the case of Pakistan to make it remain under grey list or put it in the black-list. The idea of protest was to gather dissidents from Balochistan, Pashtun areas, Tibet, Hong Kong and Uyghur community to build a united front and to remind people of Pakistan-China nexus," said Taha Siddiqui, Pakistani journalist in exile and editor of South Asia press.&nbsp;

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"Pakistan should be held accountable for its continued support to terror groups and terror financing. We're here to remind FATF News and its members to not come under China's pressure when they meet this week," tweeted South Asia Press responding to Taha Siddiqui's statement.&nbsp;

Fazal Rehman Afridi, Pashtun Rights Activist said, "It's very important for the international community. Look at the case of Daniel Pearl, the terrorist who murdered him, Omar Sheikh, who has recently been released by Sindh High Court. The human rights activists, who are working for the rights of the people, are languishing in jails. So, it shows Pakistan's duplicity, what the government is saying to the world and what actually is happening. Even if they promulgate laws against terrorism, they will not act upon it, because the judiciary of Pakistan has compromised its working on the dictates of the military establishment - it is involved in terror-training, terror-financing, not only in Pakistan but in the region and around the world."&nbsp;

"We request the international community, particularly the EU to look into the matter of GSP Plus, because Pakistan is a state that is financing terrorism, violating the human rights of its own people. Pakistani Army is involved in human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It should be made accountable," added Afridi.&nbsp;

Exiled journalists, human rights activists, and Uyghurs on Tuesday gathered at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) headquarters in Paris to persuade the anti-terror financing organisation to place Pakistan on the blacklist.

Exiled journalists, human rights activists, and Uyghurs on Tuesday gathered at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) headquarters in Paris to persuade the anti-terror financing organisation to place Pakistan on the blacklist. "We have gathered here outside the FATF building as it will be meeting next week to discuss and review the case of Pakistan to make it remain under grey list or put it in the black-list. The idea of protest was to gather dissidents from Balochistan, Pashtun areas, Tibet, Hong Kong and Uyghur community to build a united front and to remind people of Pakistan-China nexus," said Taha Siddiqui, Pakistani journalist in exile and editor of South Asia press. × "Pakistan should be held accountable for its continued support to terror groups and terror financing. We're here to remind FATF News and its members to not come under China's pressure when they meet this week," tweeted South Asia Press responding to Taha Siddiqui's statement. Fazal Rehman Afridi, Pashtun Rights Activist said, "It's very important for the international community. Look at the case of Daniel Pearl, the terrorist who murdered him, Omar Sheikh, who has recently been released by Sindh High Court. The human rights activists, who are working for the rights of the people, are languishing in jails. So, it shows Pakistan's duplicity, what the government is saying to the world and what actually is happening. Even if they promulgate laws against terrorism, they will not act upon it, because the judiciary of Pakistan has compromised its working on the dictates of the military establishment - it is involved in terror-training, terror-financing, not only in Pakistan but in the region and around the world." "We request the international community, particularly the EU to look into the matter of GSP Plus, because Pakistan is a state that is financing terrorism, violating the human rights of its own people. Pakistani Army is involved in human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It should be made accountable," added Afridi.

Activists protest in Paris to ensure Pak gets placed on FATF blacklist

President Joko Widodo’s recent cabinet reshuffle suggests that Indonesia may adopt a more critical attitude towards China and reinforce government support for efforts by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the world’s largest Muslim movement, to reform Islam and position the Southeast Asian state as a key player in a battle with Middle Eastern rivals for the soul of Islam.

Mr Widodo signalled his potential policy moves with the appointment of an ambassador to the United States Muhammad Lutfi as trade minister and prominent Nahdlatul Ulama official Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as minister of religious affairs.

Mr Lutfi’s appointment came two months after a visit by Mike Pompeo to Jakarta in October at the invitation of Nahdlatul Ulama during which the Secretary of State extended Indonesia’s access to a preferential tariff arrangement and opened the door to a free trade agreement with the United States.

Mr Pompeo emphasized in talks with Mr. Widodo and in an address to a Nahdlatul Ulama conference the need to challenge China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea as well as its brutal crackdown on Turkic Muslims in the People’s Republic’s north-western province of Xinjiang.

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority democracy, extradited to China three Uighurs, the dominant Turkic ethnic group in Xinjiang, just days before Mr Pompeo’s arrival.

Mr Qoumas’ appointment is significant not only because of his prominent Nahdlatul Ulama background but also given the fact that he is one of the leaders of the movement’s most influential wing that has adopted a tough position on China’s repression of the Uighurs.

Indonesia has to date sought to walk a fine line in escalating tensions between the United States and China, including its refusal to speak out on the plight of the Uighurs. Indonesia has further sought to balance rejection of Chinese maritime claims in Indonesian waters with a desire to attract Chinese investment.

An Islamic scholar and leader of Nahdlatul Ulama’s GP Ansor Youth Movement, Mr. Qoumas, alongside his brother, Yahya Cholil Staquf, NU’s secretary-general, has been a driving force in the promotion of the movement’s concept of Humanitarian Islam, based on principles of tolerance, pluralism and the embrace of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Nahdlatul Ulama’s government-backed promotion of the concept has put it in direct competition with major efforts by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Iran to garner religious soft power by propagating a statist interpretation of the faith.

It is an interpretation that in the case of the kingdom and the UAE professes adherence to tolerance and inter-faith dialogue but demands absolute obedience to the ruler. Turkey and Iran push interpretations of the faith that embrace elements of political Islam as well as authoritarian governance.

In one of his early statements as a minister, Mr Qoumas appeared to be challenging more traditional wings of Nahdlatul Ulama by declaring in remarks during a visit to a Protestant church that he would protect the rights of Shiites and Ahmadis, two minorities that have been on the defensive amid concerns of mounting intolerance in Indonesia.

Senior figures within Nahdlatul Ulama continue to view Shi'ites, who constitute a mere 1.2 per cent of the Indonesian population, as one of the foremost domestic threats to Indonesian national security and an Iranian fifth wheel. Similarly, many in Nahdlatul Ulama reject Ahmadis identifying themselves as Muslims because the sect refuses to acknowledge the finality of the Prophet Mohammed.

"I don't want members of Shia and Ahmadiyya displaced from their homes because of their beliefs. They are citizens (whose rights) must be protected. The Religious Ministry will facilitate a more intensive dialogue to bridge differences,” Mr Qoumas said, referring to attacks on minorities.

Mr Qoumas’ Nahdlatul Ulama youth wing, together with its five-million strong militia, has played a key role in confronting militant Islamic groups, like Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Islamic Defenders Front (FDI).

GP Ansor officials take pride in have engineered situations that in 2017 led to the banning of Hizb ut-Tahrir, a controversial global movement that calls for the restoration of the Caliphate.

The government last month banned FDI, established as a vigilante group that was a major organizer of mass protests in 2016 that led to the defeat of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent better known as Ahok, in mayoral elections in Jakarta and his subsequent sentencing on blasphemy charges.

The ban came weeks after the return to Indonesia from self-exile in Saudi Arabia of FDI leader Rizieq Shahib. Mr Shahib was arrested for allegedly violating coronavirus restrictions.

The outlawing of Hizb ut-Tahrir and FDI on the basis of a presidential decree that enables the government to bypass legal procedures and fast-track the banning of groups it considers security threats prompted human rights groups to warn that Indonesia was undermining rights of freedom of association and expression.

Deputy justice minister, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, told reporters that FPI was outlawed because some 30 members of the group had been convicted on terrorism charges and because the group defied Indonesia’s state ideology, Pancasila, which stresses unity and diversity.

The banning of FDI followed the election in November of Miftachul Akhyar, a Nahdlatul Ulama cleric, as head of the influential Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) to replace Ma’ruf Amin, Mr Widodo’s vice-president who in the past took a hardline against minorities and advocated Orthodox Sunni Muslim positions. Mr. Akhyar is Nahdlatul Ulama’s spiritual guide.

The election further removed from the council’s leadership several clerics who had backed the anti-Ahok demonstrations. They were replaced by at least one supporter of Humanitarian Islam, Masdar Masudi, as well as scholars from Muhamadiyya, Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim movement, viewed as progressives.

Nonetheless, some analysts suggest that the council, in apparent contradiction to Mr Qoumas, will not break its discriminatory attitude towards minorities.

Said Alexander R Arifianto, an Indonesia scholar at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies: “When it comes to marginalized minorities, we can expect the new MUI leadership to retain their conservative standing. Mainstream Islamic clerics — including those within MUI — tend to share a conservative orthodoxy in their religious interpretation toward these groups.”

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

President Joko Widodo’s recent cabinet reshuffle suggests that Indonesia may adopt a more critical attitude towards China and reinforce government support for efforts by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the world’s largest Muslim movement, to reform Islam and position the Southeast Asian state as a key player in a battle with Middle Eastern rivals for the soul of Islam.

President Joko Widodo’s recent cabinet reshuffle suggests that Indonesia may adopt a more critical attitude towards China and reinforce government support for efforts by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the world’s largest Muslim movement, to reform Islam and position the Southeast Asian state as a key player in a battle with Middle Eastern rivals for the soul of Islam. Mr Widodo signalled his potential policy moves with the appointment of an ambassador to the United States Muhammad Lutfi as trade minister and prominent Nahdlatul Ulama official Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as minister of religious affairs. Mr Lutfi’s appointment came two months after a visit by Mike Pompeo to Jakarta in October at the invitation of Nahdlatul Ulama during which the Secretary of State extended Indonesia’s access to a preferential tariff arrangement and opened the door to a free trade agreement with the United States. Mr Pompeo emphasized in talks with Mr. Widodo and in an address to a Nahdlatul Ulama conference the need to challenge China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea as well as its brutal crackdown on Turkic Muslims in the People’s Republic’s north-western province of Xinjiang. Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority democracy, extradited to China three Uighurs, the dominant Turkic ethnic group in Xinjiang, just days before Mr Pompeo’s arrival. Mr Qoumas’ appointment is significant not only because of his prominent Nahdlatul Ulama background but also given the fact that he is one of the leaders of the movement’s most influential wing that has adopted a tough position on China’s repression of the Uighurs. Indonesia has to date sought to walk a fine line in escalating tensions between the United States and China, including its refusal to speak out on the plight of the Uighurs. Indonesia has further sought to balance rejection of Chinese maritime claims in Indonesian waters with a desire to attract Chinese investment. An Islamic scholar and leader of Nahdlatul Ulama’s GP Ansor Youth Movement, Mr. Qoumas, alongside his brother, Yahya Cholil Staquf, NU’s secretary-general, has been a driving force in the promotion of the movement’s concept of Humanitarian Islam, based on principles of tolerance, pluralism and the embrace of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Nahdlatul Ulama’s government-backed promotion of the concept has put it in direct competition with major efforts by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Iran to garner religious soft power by propagating a statist interpretation of the faith. It is an interpretation that in the case of the kingdom and the UAE professes adherence to tolerance and inter-faith dialogue but demands absolute obedience to the ruler. Turkey and Iran push interpretations of the faith that embrace elements of political Islam as well as authoritarian governance. In one of his early statements as a minister, Mr Qoumas appeared to be challenging more traditional wings of Nahdlatul Ulama by declaring in remarks during a visit to a Protestant church that he would protect the rights of Shiites and Ahmadis, two minorities that have been on the defensive amid concerns of mounting intolerance in Indonesia. Senior figures within Nahdlatul Ulama continue to view Shi'ites, who constitute a mere 1.2 per cent of the Indonesian population, as one of the foremost domestic threats to Indonesian national security and an Iranian fifth wheel. Similarly, many in Nahdlatul Ulama reject Ahmadis identifying themselves as Muslims because the sect refuses to acknowledge the finality of the Prophet Mohammed. "I don't want members of Shia and Ahmadiyya displaced from their homes because of their beliefs. They are citizens (whose rights) must be protected. The Religious Ministry will facilitate a more intensive dialogue to bridge differences,” Mr Qoumas said, referring to attacks on minorities. Mr Qoumas’ Nahdlatul Ulama youth wing, together with its five-million strong militia, has played a key role in confronting militant Islamic groups, like Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Islamic Defenders Front (FDI). GP Ansor officials take pride in have engineered situations that in 2017 led to the banning of Hizb ut-Tahrir, a controversial global movement that calls for the restoration of the Caliphate. The government last month banned FDI, established as a vigilante group that was a major organizer of mass protests in 2016 that led to the defeat of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent better known as Ahok, in mayoral elections in Jakarta and his subsequent sentencing on blasphemy charges. The ban came weeks after the return to Indonesia from self-exile in Saudi Arabia of FDI leader Rizieq Shahib. Mr Shahib was arrested for allegedly violating coronavirus restrictions. The outlawing of Hizb ut-Tahrir and FDI on the basis of a presidential decree that enables the government to bypass legal procedures and fast-track the banning of groups it considers security threats prompted human rights groups to warn that Indonesia was undermining rights of freedom of association and expression. Deputy justice minister, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, told reporters that FPI was outlawed because some 30 members of the group had been convicted on terrorism charges and because the group defied Indonesia’s state ideology, Pancasila, which stresses unity and diversity. The banning of FDI followed the election in November of Miftachul Akhyar, a Nahdlatul Ulama cleric, as head of the influential Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) to replace Ma’ruf Amin, Mr Widodo’s vice-president who in the past took a hardline against minorities and advocated Orthodox Sunni Muslim positions. Mr. Akhyar is Nahdlatul Ulama’s spiritual guide. The election further removed from the council’s leadership several clerics who had backed the anti-Ahok demonstrations. They were replaced by at least one supporter of Humanitarian Islam, Masdar Masudi, as well as scholars from Muhamadiyya, Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim movement, viewed as progressives. Nonetheless, some analysts suggest that the council, in apparent contradiction to Mr Qoumas, will not break its discriminatory attitude towards minorities. Said Alexander R Arifianto, an Indonesia scholar at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies: “When it comes to marginalized minorities, we can expect the new MUI leadership to retain their conservative standing. Mainstream Islamic clerics — including those within MUI — tend to share a conservative orthodoxy in their religious interpretation toward these groups.” (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion: Indonesia potentially set to take on China and claim leadership of ‘moderate’ Islam

The United States has called for the release of an Uyghur Muslim doctor who has been sentenced to 20 years of jail in China because of activism of her family members.

The daughter of Gulshan Abbas told a briefing organised with the bipartisan US Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) that their family had recently learned that her mother received the sentence in March last year on terrorism-related charges after disappearing in September 2018, Al Jazeera reported.

Gulshan Abbas is the sister of activist Rushan Abbas, who has been quite vocal about the Chinese Communist Party`s atrocities against Muslim minorities in China. Meanwhile, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Abbas was sentenced for the crimes of joining a "terrorist" organisation, helping terrorist activities and "assembling a crowd to disrupt social order".

"We urge certain politicians in the United States to respect facts and stop fabricating lies and smearing China," the spokesman, Wang Wenbin, told a news conference.

The daughter, Ziba Murat, called the charges "preposterous". Gulshan`s sister, Rushan Abbas, said the charges are the consequence of activism by her and her brother, Rishat Abbas, both of whom are based in the US."We have committed to working to defend our people`s rights and advocate for justice, and now our sister is denied justice as a punishment," Rushan said.

Taking to Twitter, US assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labour, Robert Destro, said Gulshan Abbas must be released."Her forcible disappearance, detainment and harsh sentencing by the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] is evidence of a family suffering the consequences of speaking out against a government that has no respect for human rights," he said.

Ziba Murat said she could not reveal the source of the information on the sentencing to protect their identity. "We only learned that she is sentenced to 20 years, and we`re trying to get more information."

"My mom is a medical professional, non-political, kind person who has spent her life helping people," she said, adding that her mother was in fragile health and suffered from multiple conditions, including high blood pressure.

The CECC chairman, Democratic Representative James McGovern, called the punishment of an innocent family member in what he said was an attempt to silence free expression "morally reprehensible".He said it was just part of a "mass persecution" of Uighurs in China that has involved the detention of as many as 1.8 million people in internment camps, forced labour and other abuses.

According to credible reports, more than one million people, are or have been, detained in what is being called `political re-education` centres, in the largest mass incarceration of an ethnic minority population in the world today.

The internment camp system in the XUAR is expanding, with more than 380 suspected detention facilities having been newly built or expanded since 2017, and at least 61 detention sites newly constructed or expanded between July 2019 and July 2020. (ANI)

The United States has called for the release of an Uyghur Muslim doctor who has been sentenced to 20 years of jail in China because of activism of her family members.

The United States has called for the release of an Uyghur Muslim doctor who has been sentenced to 20 years of jail in China because of activism of her family members. The daughter of Gulshan Abbas told a briefing organised with the bipartisan US Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) that their family had recently learned that her mother received the sentence in March last year on terrorism-related charges after disappearing in September 2018, Al Jazeera reported. Gulshan Abbas is the sister of activist Rushan Abbas, who has been quite vocal about the Chinese Communist Party`s atrocities against Muslim minorities in China. Meanwhile, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Abbas was sentenced for the crimes of joining a "terrorist" organisation, helping terrorist activities and "assembling a crowd to disrupt social order". "We urge certain politicians in the United States to respect facts and stop fabricating lies and smearing China," the spokesman, Wang Wenbin, told a news conference. The daughter, Ziba Murat, called the charges "preposterous". Gulshan`s sister, Rushan Abbas, said the charges are the consequence of activism by her and her brother, Rishat Abbas, both of whom are based in the US."We have committed to working to defend our people`s rights and advocate for justice, and now our sister is denied justice as a punishment," Rushan said. Taking to Twitter, US assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labour, Robert Destro, said Gulshan Abbas must be released."Her forcible disappearance, detainment and harsh sentencing by the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] is evidence of a family suffering the consequences of speaking out against a government that has no respect for human rights," he said. Ziba Murat said she could not reveal the source of the information on the sentencing to protect their identity. "We only learned that she is sentenced to 20 years, and we`re trying to get more information." "My mom is a medical professional, non-political, kind person who has spent her life helping people," she said, adding that her mother was in fragile health and suffered from multiple conditions, including high blood pressure. The CECC chairman, Democratic Representative James McGovern, called the punishment of an innocent family member in what he said was an attempt to silence free expression "morally reprehensible".He said it was just part of a "mass persecution" of Uighurs in China that has involved the detention of as many as 1.8 million people in internment camps, forced labour and other abuses. According to credible reports, more than one million people, are or have been, detained in what is being called `political re-education` centres, in the largest mass incarceration of an ethnic minority population in the world today. The internment camp system in the XUAR is expanding, with more than 380 suspected detention facilities having been newly built or expanded since 2017, and at least 61 detention sites newly constructed or expanded between July 2019 and July 2020. (ANI)

Ugyhur activist's sister sentenced to 20 years of jail in China, US calls for her release

An Uyghur Muslim leader has slammed China for its treatment of minorities in Xinjiang province and has vowed to fight against Chinese atrocities. The leader said that every Uyghur around the world was a "freedom fighter" and that they "will not rest until we make our people free".

In a fiery speech during a protest to commemorate East Turkestan`s Independence Day, the leader said: "We will not rest until we make our people free. We will not back down... We have rights. We have very basic fundamental right to fight against you every day, every hour. so today I want to say every Uyghur in the world is the soldier every Uyghur around the world is a freedom fighter."&nbsp;

To commemorate Independence Day on November 12, protests were held against China in various cities around the world.

East Turkestan or Xinjiang region has about 10 million Uyghurs. The Turkic Muslim group makes up 45 per cent of the population. Uyghur Muslims have long accused China of cultural, religious and economic discrimination.

About 7 per cent of the Muslim population in Xinjiang, has been incarcerated in an expanding network of "political re-education" camps, according to US officials and UN experts. East Turkistan government in exile said that the Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Tatar and other peoples of East Turkistan have spent the last 71 years fighting to restore their independence.

For the last six years, millions of East Turkistan people, mostly of Muslim faith, have been held in concentration camps, prisons and slave labour camps. According to survivors` accounts, they are being tortured, killed for their organs, raped, sterilised and executed.

The government-in-exile is advocating for official recognition from the world`s governments and parliaments.Classified documents known as the China Cables, accessed last year by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, threw light on how the Chinese government uses technology to control Uyghur Muslims worldwide.However, China regularly denies such mistreatment and says the camps provide vocational training.&nbsp;

People in the internment camps have described being subjected to forced political indoctrination, torture, beatings, and denial of food and medicine, and say they have been prohibited from practising their religion or speaking their language.

(With agency inputs)

An Uyghur Muslim leader has slammed China for its treatment of minorities in Xinjiang province and has vowed to fight against Chinese atrocities. The leader said that every Uyghur around the world was a "freedom fighter" and that they "will not rest until we make our people free".

An Uyghur Muslim leader has slammed China for its treatment of minorities in Xinjiang province and has vowed to fight against Chinese atrocities. The leader said that every Uyghur around the world was a "freedom fighter" and that they "will not rest until we make our people free". In a fiery speech during a protest to commemorate East Turkestan`s Independence Day, the leader said: "We will not rest until we make our people free. We will not back down... We have rights. We have very basic fundamental right to fight against you every day, every hour. so today I want to say every Uyghur in the world is the soldier every Uyghur around the world is a freedom fighter." To commemorate Independence Day on November 12, protests were held against China in various cities around the world. East Turkestan or Xinjiang region has about 10 million Uyghurs. The Turkic Muslim group makes up 45 per cent of the population. Uyghur Muslims have long accused China of cultural, religious and economic discrimination. About 7 per cent of the Muslim population in Xinjiang, has been incarcerated in an expanding network of "political re-education" camps, according to US officials and UN experts. East Turkistan government in exile said that the Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Tatar and other peoples of East Turkistan have spent the last 71 years fighting to restore their independence. For the last six years, millions of East Turkistan people, mostly of Muslim faith, have been held in concentration camps, prisons and slave labour camps. According to survivors` accounts, they are being tortured, killed for their organs, raped, sterilised and executed. The government-in-exile is advocating for official recognition from the world`s governments and parliaments.Classified documents known as the China Cables, accessed last year by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, threw light on how the Chinese government uses technology to control Uyghur Muslims worldwide.However, China regularly denies such mistreatment and says the camps provide vocational training. People in the internment camps have described being subjected to forced political indoctrination, torture, beatings, and denial of food and medicine, and say they have been prohibited from practising their religion or speaking their language. (With agency inputs)

Uyghur leader vows to fight against Chinese atrocities

Protesters rallied on Thursday at Dhaka National Press Club under the banner of ‘Uyghur Muslim Rights Council’ (Uyghur Musalmaner Odhikar Parishad) to demand political and religious rights for the persecuted people in Xinjaing Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.

The event was observed as a token of support to Uyghur Muslims to mark the occasion of Independence Day of ‘the Islamic Republic of East Turkistan’ which is observed worldwide on November 12.

The Uyghur Muslims are reportedly persecuted by the Chinese government and are not allowed to practise their Islamic faith by the Communist government of China.

During the protest march, Islamic scholars and Ulemas displayed placards depicting atrocities perpetrated by the Chinese, demolition of ancient Mosques to construct public toilets, weeping Uyghur women being paraded to detention centres, and enforced birth control measures to control Muslim population.

The demonstrators also demanded a UN fact finding team be allowed to visit various detention camps, and stop harassment of Uyghur Muslims.

Protests against the treatment meted to Uyghurs in China was also held in Rajshahi region of the country.

(with inputs)

Protesters rallied on Thursday at Dhaka National Press Club under the banner of ‘Uyghur Muslim Rights Council’ (Uyghur Musalmaner Odhikar Parishad) to demand political and religious rights for the persecuted people in Xinjaing Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.

Protesters rallied on Thursday at Dhaka National Press Club under the banner of ‘Uyghur Muslim Rights Council’ (Uyghur Musalmaner Odhikar Parishad) to demand political and religious rights for the persecuted people in Xinjaing Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. The event was observed as a token of support to Uyghur Muslims to mark the occasion of Independence Day of ‘the Islamic Republic of East Turkistan’ which is observed worldwide on November 12. The Uyghur Muslims are reportedly persecuted by the Chinese government and are not allowed to practise their Islamic faith by the Communist government of China. During the protest march, Islamic scholars and Ulemas displayed placards depicting atrocities perpetrated by the Chinese, demolition of ancient Mosques to construct public toilets, weeping Uyghur women being paraded to detention centres, and enforced birth control measures to control Muslim population. The demonstrators also demanded a UN fact finding team be allowed to visit various detention camps, and stop harassment of Uyghur Muslims. Protests against the treatment meted to Uyghurs in China was also held in Rajshahi region of the country. (with inputs)

Protests in Bangladesh over persecution of Uyghurs in China

Ferkat Jawdat, a&nbsp;Uighur-American software engineer came to the US in 2011 along with his siblings to reunite with his father who had gone to the US in 2006. His mother, Minaiwaier Tuersun, was denied a Chinese passport but was cleared by the US government to visit the US and reunite with her family.&nbsp;

In 2018, she was sent to one of China’s vast network of concentration camps. After failing to receive any news about her condition, Ferkat started speaking out starting in 2018 to raise awareness about his mother and other Uighurs in the Chinese camps. After spending more than 15 months in multiple camps and three months in a Chinese prison, Minaiwaier Tuersun was released in May last year but lives under constant government control. The Chinese government claims she was never detained, however, it asked her to write about her “good” experience in the so-called re-education camps after “being educated”.

Excerpts from the interview with&nbsp;Ferkat Jawdat:

WION: Please tell us about your family especially about your mother's plight in China...

Ferkat Jawdat:&nbsp;My father came to the United States in 2006. I and other siblings came in 2011. Since 2006, we have been trying to get my mother a Chinese passport so that she can come to the US and reunite with us but the Chinese government has denied her visa for various reasons.

In the beginning, they said that my father has to go back to China to talk&nbsp;but we couldn't go. I talked with my mother every single day. We tried all legal ways to get her the Chinese passport but failed.&nbsp;

The Chinese government did not give her the passport. These concentration camps started in early 2017, the first time my mom was detained was in November 2017, she was then released after 22 days.&nbsp;So she became quiet and scared and said a couple of times that she cannot talk to us as she was really sad and upset.

WION: Where is your mother now? How were you able to be in touch with her since 2011 after you arrived in the US?

Ferkat Jawdat:&nbsp;My mother is in an old house in Ghulja or Yining in China living by herself.&nbsp;We missed all the normal communication and after days she called me (video calls) but didn't say anything and kept crying without saying a word.

We know that all communication was being monitored by the government or the police officials.&nbsp;From time to time she used to make video calls and sit quietly. We can see the fear and anxiety in her eyes.

She said that she doesn't know when she can come back which was 15 months ago when I received a call from her. In March 2018, five people from my family were sent to the camps. We had to wait and stayed quiet or else they would have been in more danger.

WION: There are many Muslim countries who have stayed silent over atrocities on Uighurs. What is your opinion? How do you think this issue needs to be addressed by them?

Ferkat Jawdat:&nbsp;Many Muslim countries and even the OIC chose to stay silent. The mosques are being destroyed. People are being sent to camps because they are wearing hijabs or have a beard.

One main reason is the "economic ties" these countries have with China.

The Chinese government after they started the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) invested heavily in those Muslim majority countries and so they owe a lot of money to the Chinese government, also China is the second-largest superpower in the world, so they can't pressure them and the third main reason is the lack of information especially in the beginning when those camps started in 2017, they only showed what they wanted people to see like they invited reporters from other countries and just showed their happy lives but behind the scenes&nbsp;there are alarming things happening.

WION: You obviously demand independence and freedom for your mother but how is it possible? What steps do you think should be taken since millions are believed to be in concentration/internment camps...

Ferkat Jawdat:&nbsp;When I was in China, I saw the&nbsp;difference in treatment between Uighurs/ Kazakhs. We are not being treated as normal human beings, not even as an animal. I don't think Uighurs can live with Chinese people. It's a complete genocide.

I don't even call myself an activist or a separatist. I am just trying to raise my mother's case on the international stage. My mother is one of the 3 million people who has got detained. I just want to share my story highlighting my mother's case.

Since my mother was detained in 2018 in the concentration camps, my whole life turned upside down. My mother lives by herself. She has been released from the concentration camp.

Currently, because of COVID-19, the Chinese government has put strict lockdown restrictions in the whole region. The internet has been cut off since last November at her house.&nbsp;

Then her cellular data was cut off in February as well, so I can talk to her only through the phone. I cannot make video calls. I am still hoping that she will get a passport one day. They are using the passport as a bait to make me stop.

Ferkat Jawdat, a Uighur-American software engineer came to the US in 2011 along with his siblings to reunite with his father who had gone to the US in 2006. His mother, Minaiwaier Tuersun, was denied a Chinese passport but was cleared by the US government to visit the US and reunite with her family.

Ferkat Jawdat, a Uighur-American software engineer came to the US in 2011 along with his siblings to reunite with his father who had gone to the US in 2006. His mother, Minaiwaier Tuersun, was denied a Chinese passport but was cleared by the US government to visit the US and reunite with her family. In 2018, she was sent to one of China’s vast network of concentration camps. After failing to receive any news about her condition, Ferkat started speaking out starting in 2018 to raise awareness about his mother and other Uighurs in the Chinese camps. After spending more than 15 months in multiple camps and three months in a Chinese prison, Minaiwaier Tuersun was released in May last year but lives under constant government control. The Chinese government claims she was never detained, however, it asked her to write about her “good” experience in the so-called re-education camps after “being educated”. Excerpts from the interview with Ferkat Jawdat: WION: Please tell us about your family especially about your mother's plight in China... Ferkat Jawdat: My father came to the United States in 2006. I and other siblings came in 2011. Since 2006, we have been trying to get my mother a Chinese passport so that she can come to the US and reunite with us but the Chinese government has denied her visa for various reasons. In the beginning, they said that my father has to go back to China to talk but we couldn't go. I talked with my mother every single day. We tried all legal ways to get her the Chinese passport but failed. The Chinese government did not give her the passport. These concentration camps started in early 2017, the first time my mom was detained was in November 2017, she was then released after 22 days. So she became quiet and scared and said a couple of times that she cannot talk to us as she was really sad and upset. WION: Where is your mother now? How were you able to be in touch with her since 2011 after you arrived in the US? Ferkat Jawdat: My mother is in an old house in Ghulja or Yining in China living by herself. We missed all the normal communication and after days she called me (video calls) but didn't say anything and kept crying without saying a word. We know that all communication was being monitored by the government or the police officials. From time to time she used to make video calls and sit quietly. We can see the fear and anxiety in her eyes. She said that she doesn't know when she can come back which was 15 months ago when I received a call from her. In March 2018, five people from my family were sent to the camps. We had to wait and stayed quiet or else they would have been in more danger. WION: There are many Muslim countries who have stayed silent over atrocities on Uighurs. What is your opinion? How do you think this issue needs to be addressed by them? Ferkat Jawdat: Many Muslim countries and even the OIC chose to stay silent. The mosques are being destroyed. People are being sent to camps because they are wearing hijabs or have a beard. One main reason is the "economic ties" these countries have with China. The Chinese government after they started the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) invested heavily in those Muslim majority countries and so they owe a lot of money to the Chinese government, also China is the second-largest superpower in the world, so they can't pressure them and the third main reason is the lack of information especially in the beginning when those camps started in 2017, they only showed what they wanted people to see like they invited reporters from other countries and just showed their happy lives but behind the scenes there are alarming things happening. WION: You obviously demand independence and freedom for your mother but how is it possible? What steps do you think should be taken since millions are believed to be in concentration/internment camps... Ferkat Jawdat: When I was in China, I saw the difference in treatment between Uighurs/ Kazakhs. We are not being treated as normal human beings, not even as an animal. I don't think Uighurs can live with Chinese people. It's a complete genocide. I don't even call myself an activist or a separatist. I am just trying to raise my mother's case on the international stage. My mother is one of the 3 million people who has got detained. I just want to share my story highlighting my mother's case. Since my mother was detained in 2018 in the concentration camps, my whole life turned upside down. My mother lives by herself. She has been released from the concentration camp. Currently, because of COVID-19, the Chinese government has put strict lockdown restrictions in the whole region. The internet has been cut off since last November at her house. Then her cellular data was cut off in February as well, so I can talk to her only through the phone. I cannot make video calls. I am still hoping that she will get a passport one day. They are using the passport as a bait to make me stop.

I am just trying to raise my mother's case on the international stage, says Uighur-American activist on his mother's plight in detention

Beijing has said it would protect Chinese companies after Washington said enterprises may face legal trouble if they help carry out abuses in the Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang, citing the warning was "bad for the whole world."

The US has time and again cited complaints of abuse by the ruling Communist Party against ethnic Muslims including mass detention and forced labour. The warning also came amid mounting tension with Beijing over human rights, trade and Hong Kong. 
&nbsp; 
In retaliation, China's commerce ministry accused the US government of meddling in China’s affairs. It said Washington was misusing complaints about human rights to “suppress Chinese companies.”

“This is bad for China, bad for the United States and bad for the whole world,” said a ministry statement.

“China strongly urges the US to stop its bad acts,” the ministry said. “China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”

The US warning -- issued on July 1 -- said companies that handle goods made by forced labour or supply technology that might be used in labour camps or for surveillance might face unspecified “reputational, economic and legal risks.”

Beijing has said it would protect Chinese companies after Washington said enterprises may face legal trouble if they help carry out abuses in the Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang, citing the warning was "bad for the whole world.

Beijing has said it would protect Chinese companies after Washington said enterprises may face legal trouble if they help carry out abuses in the Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang, citing the warning was "bad for the whole world." The US has time and again cited complaints of abuse by the ruling Communist Party against ethnic Muslims including mass detention and forced labour. The warning also came amid mounting tension with Beijing over human rights, trade and Hong Kong. In retaliation, China's commerce ministry accused the US government of meddling in China’s affairs. It said Washington was misusing complaints about human rights to “suppress Chinese companies.” “This is bad for China, bad for the United States and bad for the whole world,” said a ministry statement. “China strongly urges the US to stop its bad acts,” the ministry said. “China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.” The US warning -- issued on July 1 -- said companies that handle goods made by forced labour or supply technology that might be used in labour camps or for surveillance might face unspecified “reputational, economic and legal risks.”

US Xinjiang warning ‘bad for the whole world’, says China

China has an uneasy relationship with the idea of religion. On WION Edit, we discuss how far can the government meddle in the matter of faith?

In one of the earlier works of Karl Marx, the ideologue of modern communism, there is a powerful passage. "Religion is the opium of the people. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions."

Mixing religion with politics is like fighting a losing battle and China is indulging in this nefarious game. Beijing is manipulating many religions to suit the needs of the Chinese communist state and its politics.

Recently, Beijing revised its religious affairs regulations which has restricted right to freedom of religion. According to the new rules, you can have your religious belief, but you cannot propagate it.

In other words, the government is going after religious organisations. The rules say religious organisations cannot be profit-making.

Even the religion of the majority community, Buddhism has struggled under the communist regime. Unlike Taiwan, China has not produced a spiritual leader of significance in decades.

Under Xi Jinping, Chinese Buddhism gets state support, but the religion functions for a reason.

The communist government demands religious leaders to unite believers to be patriotic and disseminate religious teachings with patriotic values.

The biggest mistake that communism in China does is to mix the political with the personal - the same mistake that the Soviet Union did for several decades.

Faith or belief is a matter of personal choice. China's abuse of religion as a tool to achieve political homogeneity is deplorable. Using religion as a tool to attract people to a political ideology, like in China, is downright unethical and can only lead to disastrous consequences.

(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

 
&nbsp;

China has an uneasy relationship with the idea of religion. On WION Edit, we discuss how far can the government meddle in the matter of faith? In one of the earlier works of Karl Marx, the ideologue of modern communism, there is a powerful passage.

China has an uneasy relationship with the idea of religion. On WION Edit, we discuss how far can the government meddle in the matter of faith? In one of the earlier works of Karl Marx, the ideologue of modern communism, there is a powerful passage. "Religion is the opium of the people. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions." Mixing religion with politics is like fighting a losing battle and China is indulging in this nefarious game. Beijing is manipulating many religions to suit the needs of the Chinese communist state and its politics. Recently, Beijing revised its religious affairs regulations which has restricted right to freedom of religion. According to the new rules, you can have your religious belief, but you cannot propagate it. In other words, the government is going after religious organisations. The rules say religious organisations cannot be profit-making. Even the religion of the majority community, Buddhism has struggled under the communist regime. Unlike Taiwan, China has not produced a spiritual leader of significance in decades. Under Xi Jinping, Chinese Buddhism gets state support, but the religion functions for a reason. The communist government demands religious leaders to unite believers to be patriotic and disseminate religious teachings with patriotic values. The biggest mistake that communism in China does is to mix the political with the personal - the same mistake that the Soviet Union did for several decades. Faith or belief is a matter of personal choice. China's abuse of religion as a tool to achieve political homogeneity is deplorable. Using religion as a tool to attract people to a political ideology, like in China, is downright unethical and can only lead to disastrous consequences. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: China's clamp down on religious activities

After China's state media released a video it claimed was of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-rejects-turkey-criticism-on-uighurs-denies-poet-died-196702">Uighur poet and musician Abdurehim Heyit </a>who it said was alive, several members of the ethnic Uighur community asked China to show videos of their family members and relatives who allegedly disappeared in China's restive Xinjiang province.

Soon after the video was shown publicly, #MeTooUyghur began trending on Twitter with several <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-denies-holding-uighur-muslims-captive-159141">Uighur activists living </a>outside China slamming the government and urging it to show videos of their relatives.

An activist on Twitter, Maryam @maryamhanim said: "My husband #MuhtarRozi &nbsp;must be free immediately!, adding, "my parents must be released right now I am very anxious about them. Where are they now? Are they all safe or not?"

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Show me the Video of them as you show <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AbdurehimHeyit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AbdurehimHeyit</a>’s video . <a href="https://t.co/J0fltMgtKX">https://t.co/J0fltMgtKX</a>
— maryam (@maryamhanim) <a href="https://twitter.com/maryamhanim/status/1095097940136337408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Chinese government should answer my questions, if they are still considering themselves doing right," the activist said. The post was retweeted several times.

Another activist, Hendan @Hendan_Hiyal hit out against the Chinese government saying: My cousin, Erpat Ablekrem, 25, fr Ghulja (Nothern city of East Turkistan), professional football player. He was taken to the concentration camp in March 2018.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MeTooUyghur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MeTooUyghur</a> 
This is my cousin, Erpat Ablekrem, 25, fr Ghulja (Nothern city of East Turkistan), professional football player. He was taken to the concentration camp in March 2018. 
I ask Chinese govern to free my innocent cousin from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NaziChinesecamps?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NaziChinesecamps</a>. <a href="https://t.co/N83eIN7JBE">pic.twitter.com/N83eIN7JBE</a>
— Hendan (@Hendan_Hiyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hendan_Hiyal/status/1095042584697847808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Turkey had said China's treatment of ethnic Uighur was "a great embarrassment for humanity," adding to rights groups' recent criticism over mass detentions of the Turkic-speaking minority.

"The systematic assimilation policy of Chinese authorities towards Uighur Turks is a great embarrassment for humanity," Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy had said in a statement.

Turkey called on the international community and UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres "to take effective steps to end the human tragedy in the Xinjiang region."

The US has often lashed out at China over the Uighur issue. Last year, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo had said that "hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of Uighurs are held against their will in so-called re-education camps where they're forced to endure severe political indoctrination and other awful abuses.

China has however denied any wrongdoing over the Uighur issue. It has consistenly maintained it has been trying to asslimate the ethinic Uighurs into society.

However, a UN report had said last year that&nbsp;it had received many credible reports that one&nbsp;million ethnic Uighurs in China were being held in what resembled a "massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy".

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

After China's state media released a video it claimed was of Uighur poet and musician Abdurehim Heyit who it said was alive, several members of the ethnic Uighur community asked China to show videos of their family members and relatives who allegedly disappeared in China's restive Xinjiang province.

After China's state media released a video it claimed was of Uighur poet and musician Abdurehim Heyit who it said was alive, several members of the ethnic Uighur community asked China to show videos of their family members and relatives who allegedly disappeared in China's restive Xinjiang province. Soon after the video was shown publicly, #MeTooUyghur began trending on Twitter with several Uighur activists living outside China slamming the government and urging it to show videos of their relatives. An activist on Twitter, Maryam @maryamhanim said: "My husband #MuhtarRozi must be free immediately!, adding, "my parents must be released right now I am very anxious about them. Where are they now? Are they all safe or not?" Show me the Video of them as you show #AbdurehimHeyit’s video . https://t.co/J0fltMgtKX — maryam (@maryamhanim) February 11, 2019 × "Chinese government should answer my questions, if they are still considering themselves doing right," the activist said. The post was retweeted several times. Another activist, Hendan @Hendan_Hiyal hit out against the Chinese government saying: My cousin, Erpat Ablekrem, 25, fr Ghulja (Nothern city of East Turkistan), professional football player. He was taken to the concentration camp in March 2018. #MeTooUyghur This is my cousin, Erpat Ablekrem, 25, fr Ghulja (Nothern city of East Turkistan), professional football player. He was taken to the concentration camp in March 2018. I ask Chinese govern to free my innocent cousin from #NaziChinesecamps. pic.twitter.com/N83eIN7JBE — Hendan (@Hendan_Hiyal) February 11, 2019 × Turkey had said China's treatment of ethnic Uighur was "a great embarrassment for humanity," adding to rights groups' recent criticism over mass detentions of the Turkic-speaking minority. "The systematic assimilation policy of Chinese authorities towards Uighur Turks is a great embarrassment for humanity," Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy had said in a statement. Turkey called on the international community and UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres "to take effective steps to end the human tragedy in the Xinjiang region." The US has often lashed out at China over the Uighur issue. Last year, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo had said that "hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of Uighurs are held against their will in so-called re-education camps where they're forced to endure severe political indoctrination and other awful abuses. China has however denied any wrongdoing over the Uighur issue. It has consistenly maintained it has been trying to asslimate the ethinic Uighurs into society. However, a UN report had said last year that it had received many credible reports that one million ethnic Uighurs in China were being held in what resembled a "massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy".

Show us video, information of missing relatives, Uighur activists lash out at China

With Xinjiang tightening anti-terror law banning instigation of people to cross border to undergo terror training Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif has assured China of cracking down on militant outfits blamed for attacks in the volatile province. 
 
Pakistan will firmly crackdown on terrorist forces like the &quot;East Turkestan Islamic Movement&quot; (ETIM) and protect the security of &quot;China-Pakistan Economic Corridor&quot;, (CEPC) state-run China Military Online quoted him as saying during his meeting with China&#39;s top military official Fang Fenghui in Urumqi, provincial capital of Xinjiang on Tuesday. 
 
Fang is the member of China&#39;s Central Military Commission (CMC), the highest military body and Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the CMC. 
 
Sharif was in Urumqi to attend the Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism in Counter Terrorism by Afghanistan-China-Pakistan-Tajikistan Armed Forces. 
 
His assurance of firm crackdown followed China-Pakistan border police recently launching first joint patrols of the disputed Pakistan Controlled Kashmir (POK) border amid reports that 114 Uyghurs Muslims from Xinjiang joined Islamic State in Syria. 
 
Xinjiang, the home for Uyghurs who resented the increasing settlements of Hans from other provinces has witnessed violent attacks in recent years. 
 
China blamed ETIM, a separatist outfit linked to al-Qaeda for the attacks. Under pressure from China, Pakistan army has conducted military operations against ETIM training bases in the tribal areas bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent months. 
 
Xinjiang recently adopted new anti-terrorism rules stipulating reassessment of risk levels of prisoners before release and solitary confinement and education for ring leaders. 
 
The new rules stipulated that recruiting, training or transporting terror-related personnel will be regarded as carrying out terror activities, as will as organising or instigating others to illegally cross into another country to participate in terror activities or terror training, state-run Global Times reported. 
 
The Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism formed by China significantly includes Afghanistan which also shares borders with Xinjiang.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

Under Chinese pressure, Pakistan army has lately conducted operations against al-Qaeda linked ETIM's training bases

With Xinjiang tightening anti-terror law banning instigation of people to cross border to undergo terror training Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif has assured China of cracking down on militant outfits blamed for attacks in the volatile province. Pakistan will firmly crackdown on terrorist forces like the "East Turkestan Islamic Movement" (ETIM) and protect the security of "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor", (CEPC) state-run China Military Online quoted him as saying during his meeting with China's top military official Fang Fenghui in Urumqi, provincial capital of Xinjiang on Tuesday. Fang is the member of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), the highest military body and Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the CMC. Sharif was in Urumqi to attend the Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism in Counter Terrorism by Afghanistan-China-Pakistan-Tajikistan Armed Forces. His assurance of firm crackdown followed China-Pakistan border police recently launching first joint patrols of the disputed Pakistan Controlled Kashmir (POK) border amid reports that 114 Uyghurs Muslims from Xinjiang joined Islamic State in Syria. Xinjiang, the home for Uyghurs who resented the increasing settlements of Hans from other provinces has witnessed violent attacks in recent years. China blamed ETIM, a separatist outfit linked to al-Qaeda for the attacks. Under pressure from China, Pakistan army has conducted military operations against ETIM training bases in the tribal areas bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent months. Xinjiang recently adopted new anti-terrorism rules stipulating reassessment of risk levels of prisoners before release and solitary confinement and education for ring leaders. The new rules stipulated that recruiting, training or transporting terror-related personnel will be regarded as carrying out terror activities, as will as organising or instigating others to illegally cross into another country to participate in terror activities or terror training, state-run Global Times reported. The Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism formed by China significantly includes Afghanistan which also shares borders with Xinjiang. (PTI)

Pakistan army chief promises China firm crackdown on Uyghur militants

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