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

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

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

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

The organisation, which has no state backing, plans to use the London hearings to issue a verdict on whether Beijing has perpetrated genocide or crimes against humanity against Uyghurs.

China: Uyghur's people tribunal begins in UK

After H&amp;M and Nike sparked outrage for their stance on human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region by the Chinese state, calling for a boycott of the brands, now actors from the country have joined in their boycott of the brands.&nbsp;

The ruling Communist Party criticized H&amp;M for saying it would stop buying cotton from the northwestern Chinese region.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-hm-faces-boycott-in-china-over-stance-on-treatment-of-uyghurs-372978" hreflang="en">H&amp;M faces boycott in China over stance on treatment of Uyghurs</a>

Now, in response, China Central Television said on its social media account, “For enterprises that touch the bottom line of our country, the response is very clear: don’t buy!”

Celebrities including Wang Yibo, a popular singer and actor, and Eason Chan announced they were breaking endorsement contracts with the likes of H&amp;M, Nike and Adidas. Singer and actress Song Qian, a former member of Korean pop group f(x) who also is known as Victoria Song, and actor Huang Xuan, also announced they would end endorsement contracts with H&amp;M. Actress Tang Songyun said she was breaking ties with Nike.

Also, H&amp;M products were missing from China’s most popular e-commerce platforms, Alibaba Group’s TMall and JD.com.&nbsp;

In January, Washington imposed a ban on imports of cotton from Xinjiang, a major supplier to clothing producers for Western markets.

After H&M and Nike sparked outrage for their stance on human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region by the Chinese state, calling for a boycott of the brands, now actors from the country have joined in their boycott of the brands.

After H&M and Nike sparked outrage for their stance on human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region by the Chinese state, calling for a boycott of the brands, now actors from the country have joined in their boycott of the brands. The ruling Communist Party criticized H&M for saying it would stop buying cotton from the northwestern Chinese region. H&M faces boycott in China over stance on treatment of Uyghurs Now, in response, China Central Television said on its social media account, “For enterprises that touch the bottom line of our country, the response is very clear: don’t buy!” Celebrities including Wang Yibo, a popular singer and actor, and Eason Chan announced they were breaking endorsement contracts with the likes of H&M, Nike and Adidas. Singer and actress Song Qian, a former member of Korean pop group f(x) who also is known as Victoria Song, and actor Huang Xuan, also announced they would end endorsement contracts with H&M. Actress Tang Songyun said she was breaking ties with Nike. Also, H&M products were missing from China’s most popular e-commerce platforms, Alibaba Group’s TMall and JD.com. In January, Washington imposed a ban on imports of cotton from Xinjiang, a major supplier to clothing producers for Western markets.

Chinese stars break ties with Nike, H&M over remarks on treatment of Uyghurs

A US report on religious freedom has voiced concerns over the treatment of minorities in China, especially to Uighurs of northwest Xinjiang province, Christians, Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners.

The International Religious Freedom (IRF) Report, released by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said that in China people have the freedom to practice a faith of their choice, but the state protection is limited to "normal religious activities" and it does not define "normal."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/religious-freedom-severely-restricted-in-pakistan-uscirf-report-296733">Religious freedom severely restricted in Pakistan: USCIRF report</a> 
&nbsp; 
It further said that the government of Xi Jinping "continued to exercise control over religion and restrict the activities and personal freedom of religious adherents that is perceived as threatening state or CCP interests", according to religious groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international media reports.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-slams-uscirf-which-accused-india-of-violating-religious-freedom-295662">India slams USCIRF which accused India of violating religious freedom</a>&nbsp;

Since 2017, Beijing has detained over a million Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Hui, and members of other Islamic groups, as well as Uighur Christians, and sent them to in specially built or converted internment camps in Xinjiang, the report said.&nbsp;

In a lengthy section explaining China’s record, the State Department cited instances of people being arrested, sent to psychiatric wards, and physically abused because of their religious beliefs.&nbsp;

"The Chinese Communist Party is now ordering religious organizations to obey CCP leadership and infused communist doctrine into the teachings and practice of their faith," Pompeo said, in the press conference held to mark the report's release. &nbsp;

"The mass detentions of Uighurs in Xinjiang continues. So does the repression of Tibetans and Buddhists and Falun Gong and Christians."

This&nbsp;annual report has placed China under "country of particular concern"&nbsp;on religion since 1999.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A US report on religious freedom has voiced concerns over the treatment of minorities in China, especially to Uighurs of northwest Xinjiang province, Christians, Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners.

A US report on religious freedom has voiced concerns over the treatment of minorities in China, especially to Uighurs of northwest Xinjiang province, Christians, Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners. The International Religious Freedom (IRF) Report, released by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said that in China people have the freedom to practice a faith of their choice, but the state protection is limited to "normal religious activities" and it does not define "normal." Also read | Religious freedom severely restricted in Pakistan: USCIRF report It further said that the government of Xi Jinping "continued to exercise control over religion and restrict the activities and personal freedom of religious adherents that is perceived as threatening state or CCP interests", according to religious groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international media reports. Also read | India slams USCIRF which accused India of violating religious freedom Since 2017, Beijing has detained over a million Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Hui, and members of other Islamic groups, as well as Uighur Christians, and sent them to in specially built or converted internment camps in Xinjiang, the report said. In a lengthy section explaining China’s record, the State Department cited instances of people being arrested, sent to psychiatric wards, and physically abused because of their religious beliefs. "The Chinese Communist Party is now ordering religious organizations to obey CCP leadership and infused communist doctrine into the teachings and practice of their faith," Pompeo said, in the press conference held to mark the report's release. "The mass detentions of Uighurs in Xinjiang continues. So does the repression of Tibetans and Buddhists and Falun Gong and Christians." This annual report has placed China under "country of particular concern" on religion since 1999.

US report voices concerns over minorities treatment in China

A series of recent measures in Saudi Arabia and Iran that violate the rights, if not endanger religious and ethnic minorities call into question their moral claims of adhering to core faith-based values of mercy and compassion.

If anything, the two arch-rivals compete in violating the rights of minorities like Uighurs threatened with deportation to China where they run the risk of being incarcerated in re-education camps in the troubled, north-western province of Xinjiang; Rohingyas who have been the victims of ethnic cleansing in Myanmar; and persecuted Bahais and other religious minorities in Iran.

Saudi and Iranian policies seem more in line with those of authoritarian and autocratic leaders who often seek their legitimacy in civilisationalism that emphasises the supremacy of a distinct civilization at the expense of others rather than principles of humanitarianism.

The plight of threatened Muslim majorities alongside potential different Muslim responses to US President Donald Trump’s controversial Israeli-Palestinian peace plan that favours Israel is likely to sharpen a struggle for leadership of the Islamic world between a Saudi-UAE-led alliance and countries like Turkey, Iran and Malaysia.

Backed by Turkey and Iran, Malaysia last month organised an Islamic summit in Kuala Lumpur that failed to live up to its billing of defending the rights of endangered Muslim minorities. Nonetheless, the summit sparked ripples in various Muslim nations in the Middle East as well as Asia.

Beyond Iran and Saudi Arabia’s overall abuse of universal human rights, recent reports highlight their failure to ensure the safety and rights of persecuted minorities – a principle that was left, right and centre in this week’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the German extermination camp in Poland.

“Auschwitz did not fall from the sky,” said 93-year-old historian and Auschwitz survivor Marian Turski.. He argued that Auschwitz was the result of thousands of small steps that stripped minorities of their dignity and humanity. “The 11th commandment is thou shalt not be indifferent. Do not be indifferent when any minority is discriminated against,” Turski said.

The Saudi deportation of Uighurs who are caught in a no-man’s land given the blanket refusal by Chinese diplomatic missions to extend their passports as part of its brutal crackdown on Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, casts a shadow over a visit this month to Auschwitz by Mohammed Al-Issa, the first by a senior Saudi cleric.

Al-Issa’s visit was designed to project the kingdom under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has defended the crackdown, as a religiously tolerant country that has broken with the intolerant aspects of ultra-conservative Islam, not only in its discrimination against women but also in its attitudes towards other faiths and minority groups.

Al-Issa heads the Muslim World League that for decades was one of the prime Saudi vehicles for the global promotion and funding of Sunni Muslim ultra-conservatism.

The world must ensure that “these kinds of horrible crimes” will never “happen again,” Al-Issa said in Auschwitz, echoing statements by multiple Auschwitz survivors who insisted that ‘never again’ was a principle applicable to all persecuted minorities, not just Jews.

Al-Issa’s statement may well have been genuine. “His face reflected feelings of shock and sadness as he looked at piles of used canisters of Zyklon-B, the gas used to suffocate victims, along with mounds of eyeglasses, shoes, prayer shawls, and human hair that the Nazis collected from incoming prisoners,” The Times of Israel reported.

“Unfortunately, humanity is still suffering from these kinds of crimes on a large scale today, different human beings against each other. I believe there is a huge responsibility on the international community to do something to deal with these kinds of horrible crimes and to make sure none of this will happen again. Our world will not be able to achieve peace unless we have a strong will together to fight evil,” Al-Issa said in Auschwitz.

Fighting evil would mean that arrangements are found for Uighurs rendered without valid documents as a result of Chinese policy, if not in the kingdom itself in cooperation with other countries rather than exposing them to the risk of indefinite incarceration.

It would also mean adopting a compassionate attitude towards the approximately 250,000 Rohingya who have sought refuge in the kingdom from ethnic and religious persecution in Myanmar where they are denied basic rights.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week ordered Myanmar to adopt provisional measures to prevent further attempts at genocide against the roughly 600,000 members of the Rohingya Muslim minority remaining in Myanmar. Some 750,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh in recent years to escape what the United Nations called ethnic cleansing.

Rohingya began migrating to Saudi Arabia in the 1950s and were granted residency by King Feisal in 1973, allowing them to live, work and travel within the kingdom and abroad.

Thousands of Rohingya have, however, been expelled in recent years as illegal immigrants or because they entered the kingdom on false documents, the only papers available to them, as part of Prince Mohammed’s efforts to reduce dependence on foreign labour and increase employment opportunities for Saudi nationals.

By the same token, Iran this week ruled that national identity cards would only be issued to adherents of the three minority religions recognized by the country’s constitution, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism.

The ruling eliminated the category ‘other’ on the application forms for the card that is needed to access government and banking services as well as numerous other transactions.

The ruling targets Baha’is, members of a sect viewed as a heretic by mainstream Islam, and other sects, forcing them to lie to obtain the identity card.

Baha’i leaders have been imprisoned and those who openly follow the faith are routinely denied university education and employment, while members of the community have seen their businesses shut down and land confiscated by the state.

Iran’s National Organisation For Civil Registration, responding to a complaint about the omission of the ‘other’ option, advised the Baha’i complainant to in effect disavow his faith and fill out the form with incorrect information.

“Dear citizen, we wish you health. The law neither recognises your religion nor offers a solution. You may submit your application under existing options,” the authority said. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

A series of recent measures in Saudi Arabia and Iran that violate the rights, if not endanger religious and ethnic minorities call into question their moral claims of adhering to core faith-based values of mercy and compassion.

A series of recent measures in Saudi Arabia and Iran that violate the rights, if not endanger religious and ethnic minorities call into question their moral claims of adhering to core faith-based values of mercy and compassion. If anything, the two arch-rivals compete in violating the rights of minorities like Uighurs threatened with deportation to China where they run the risk of being incarcerated in re-education camps in the troubled, north-western province of Xinjiang; Rohingyas who have been the victims of ethnic cleansing in Myanmar; and persecuted Bahais and other religious minorities in Iran. Saudi and Iranian policies seem more in line with those of authoritarian and autocratic leaders who often seek their legitimacy in civilisationalism that emphasises the supremacy of a distinct civilization at the expense of others rather than principles of humanitarianism. The plight of threatened Muslim majorities alongside potential different Muslim responses to US President Donald Trump’s controversial Israeli-Palestinian peace plan that favours Israel is likely to sharpen a struggle for leadership of the Islamic world between a Saudi-UAE-led alliance and countries like Turkey, Iran and Malaysia. Backed by Turkey and Iran, Malaysia last month organised an Islamic summit in Kuala Lumpur that failed to live up to its billing of defending the rights of endangered Muslim minorities. Nonetheless, the summit sparked ripples in various Muslim nations in the Middle East as well as Asia. Beyond Iran and Saudi Arabia’s overall abuse of universal human rights, recent reports highlight their failure to ensure the safety and rights of persecuted minorities – a principle that was left, right and centre in this week’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the German extermination camp in Poland. “Auschwitz did not fall from the sky,” said 93-year-old historian and Auschwitz survivor Marian Turski.. He argued that Auschwitz was the result of thousands of small steps that stripped minorities of their dignity and humanity. “The 11th commandment is thou shalt not be indifferent. Do not be indifferent when any minority is discriminated against,” Turski said. The Saudi deportation of Uighurs who are caught in a no-man’s land given the blanket refusal by Chinese diplomatic missions to extend their passports as part of its brutal crackdown on Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, casts a shadow over a visit this month to Auschwitz by Mohammed Al-Issa, the first by a senior Saudi cleric. Al-Issa’s visit was designed to project the kingdom under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has defended the crackdown, as a religiously tolerant country that has broken with the intolerant aspects of ultra-conservative Islam, not only in its discrimination against women but also in its attitudes towards other faiths and minority groups. Al-Issa heads the Muslim World League that for decades was one of the prime Saudi vehicles for the global promotion and funding of Sunni Muslim ultra-conservatism. The world must ensure that “these kinds of horrible crimes” will never “happen again,” Al-Issa said in Auschwitz, echoing statements by multiple Auschwitz survivors who insisted that ‘never again’ was a principle applicable to all persecuted minorities, not just Jews. Al-Issa’s statement may well have been genuine. “His face reflected feelings of shock and sadness as he looked at piles of used canisters of Zyklon-B, the gas used to suffocate victims, along with mounds of eyeglasses, shoes, prayer shawls, and human hair that the Nazis collected from incoming prisoners,” The Times of Israel reported. “Unfortunately, humanity is still suffering from these kinds of crimes on a large scale today, different human beings against each other. I believe there is a huge responsibility on the international community to do something to deal with these kinds of horrible crimes and to make sure none of this will happen again. Our world will not be able to achieve peace unless we have a strong will together to fight evil,” Al-Issa said in Auschwitz. Fighting evil would mean that arrangements are found for Uighurs rendered without valid documents as a result of Chinese policy, if not in the kingdom itself in cooperation with other countries rather than exposing them to the risk of indefinite incarceration. It would also mean adopting a compassionate attitude towards the approximately 250,000 Rohingya who have sought refuge in the kingdom from ethnic and religious persecution in Myanmar where they are denied basic rights. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week ordered Myanmar to adopt provisional measures to prevent further attempts at genocide against the roughly 600,000 members of the Rohingya Muslim minority remaining in Myanmar. Some 750,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh in recent years to escape what the United Nations called ethnic cleansing. Rohingya began migrating to Saudi Arabia in the 1950s and were granted residency by King Feisal in 1973, allowing them to live, work and travel within the kingdom and abroad. Thousands of Rohingya have, however, been expelled in recent years as illegal immigrants or because they entered the kingdom on false documents, the only papers available to them, as part of Prince Mohammed’s efforts to reduce dependence on foreign labour and increase employment opportunities for Saudi nationals. By the same token, Iran this week ruled that national identity cards would only be issued to adherents of the three minority religions recognized by the country’s constitution, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism. The ruling eliminated the category ‘other’ on the application forms for the card that is needed to access government and banking services as well as numerous other transactions. The ruling targets Baha’is, members of a sect viewed as a heretic by mainstream Islam, and other sects, forcing them to lie to obtain the identity card. Baha’i leaders have been imprisoned and those who openly follow the faith are routinely denied university education and employment, while members of the community have seen their businesses shut down and land confiscated by the state. Iran’s National Organisation For Civil Registration, responding to a complaint about the omission of the ‘other’ option, advised the Baha’i complainant to in effect disavow his faith and fill out the form with incorrect information. “Dear citizen, we wish you health. The law neither recognises your religion nor offers a solution. You may submit your application under existing options,” the authority said. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Saudi Arabia and Iran: No place for persecuted minorities

It's not the first time and it's certainly not going to the last time. The US is going to preach human rights to every country in the world.

They have been at this game for decades, but this hypocrisy has been a historical constant.

Since the US is extremely interested in calling out other countries over human rights violations, we intend to compile America's very own dodgy track-record as far as rights are concerned.

On WION edit, we will have a brief look at this crucial issue.

Let's go back to the US and its infamous rhetoric - the so-called war on terror.

Public memory is short, and hence, it's important to narrate some dark tales over and over again.

And there isn't a darker tale than Abu Ghraib. The US army and central intelligence agency committed some of the most brutal crimes against humanity at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

The photographs that emerged out of Abu Ghraib shook the conscience of the world.

And orders to commit such crimes came from the US Department of Justice itself -- these documents that authorise brutal interrogation techniques were called 'torture memos'.

This is the same US that's preaching human rights to other countries.&nbsp;

Initially, the US denied the reports. Then the bush administration made 17 soldiers as scapegoats, of which only 2 US soldiers spent a reasonable prison time.

This is America's dark face - one that the US doesn't want anyone to see. When Abu Ghraib torture came to light, the US called it an isolated incident. But, isolated incident - it surely was not and that got proved in the Guantanamo bay episode.

Soon after the September 11 attacks, the US established Guantanamo Bay as the place to hold people perceived to be 'enemy combatants'.

Guantanamo did not come under any law - neither the laws of the United States nor international laws.

What followed was another chilling set of crimes against humanity. The US placed nearly 800 people in the Guantanamo Bay detention centre.

No charges, no trials. People held for indefinite periods of time, with no charges. And at the heart of this violation was a lie - the Bush administration said that a bulk of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay were captured from Afghanistan.

Facts prove otherwise, this is mass torture without legal recourse.

And Barack Obama - the Nobel Peace laureate did not close down Guantanamo Bay. The detention centre functions as we speak.

This is par for the course for the US. The brutal treatment and scant respect for human rights is not just for external captives.

At home, the US police shoot down nearly a thousand people every year and racism, white supremacy and xenophobia are the guiding principles.

Given this context, it's important to understand why the US is raking up china's abuse of human rights in Xinjiang.

First, it's a bargaining chip in the trade talks. Second, it's a distraction from the impeachment proceedings that could derail Trump's presidency.

With such a brutal track-record, the US would do well to address racism and police brutality at home before preaching others. 
 
(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

It's not the first time and it's certainly not going to the last time. The US is going to preach human rights to every country in the world. They have been at this game for decades, but this hypocrisy has been a historical constant.

It's not the first time and it's certainly not going to the last time. The US is going to preach human rights to every country in the world. They have been at this game for decades, but this hypocrisy has been a historical constant. Since the US is extremely interested in calling out other countries over human rights violations, we intend to compile America's very own dodgy track-record as far as rights are concerned. On WION edit, we will have a brief look at this crucial issue. Let's go back to the US and its infamous rhetoric - the so-called war on terror. Public memory is short, and hence, it's important to narrate some dark tales over and over again. And there isn't a darker tale than Abu Ghraib. The US army and central intelligence agency committed some of the most brutal crimes against humanity at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The photographs that emerged out of Abu Ghraib shook the conscience of the world. And orders to commit such crimes came from the US Department of Justice itself -- these documents that authorise brutal interrogation techniques were called 'torture memos'. This is the same US that's preaching human rights to other countries. Initially, the US denied the reports. Then the bush administration made 17 soldiers as scapegoats, of which only 2 US soldiers spent a reasonable prison time. This is America's dark face - one that the US doesn't want anyone to see. When Abu Ghraib torture came to light, the US called it an isolated incident. But, isolated incident - it surely was not and that got proved in the Guantanamo bay episode. Soon after the September 11 attacks, the US established Guantanamo Bay as the place to hold people perceived to be 'enemy combatants'. Guantanamo did not come under any law - neither the laws of the United States nor international laws. What followed was another chilling set of crimes against humanity. The US placed nearly 800 people in the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. No charges, no trials. People held for indefinite periods of time, with no charges. And at the heart of this violation was a lie - the Bush administration said that a bulk of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay were captured from Afghanistan. Facts prove otherwise, this is mass torture without legal recourse. And Barack Obama - the Nobel Peace laureate did not close down Guantanamo Bay. The detention centre functions as we speak. This is par for the course for the US. The brutal treatment and scant respect for human rights is not just for external captives. At home, the US police shoot down nearly a thousand people every year and racism, white supremacy and xenophobia are the guiding principles. Given this context, it's important to understand why the US is raking up china's abuse of human rights in Xinjiang. First, it's a bargaining chip in the trade talks. Second, it's a distraction from the impeachment proceedings that could derail Trump's presidency. With such a brutal track-record, the US would do well to address racism and police brutality at home before preaching others. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: America's dark face

An official Turkish visit to the troubled north-western Chinese province of Xinjiang to assess reports of a brutal crackdown on the region’s Turkic Muslims could shape Turkey’s challenge to conservative Gulf states’ leadership of the Islamic world and complicate Muslim silence about the most frontal assault on their faith in recent history.

The visit to assess the situation in Xinjiang was agreed in talks with Chinese leaders when Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the issue during a recent visit to Beijing.

Erdogan appeared to set the tone for the visit by declaring that it was possible to "Find a solution to this issue that takes into consideration the sensitivities on both sides."

Walking a fine line, Erdogan went on to say that "those who exploit the issue…by acting emotionally without thinking of the relationship that Turkey has with another country, unfortunately, end up costing both the Turkish republic and their kinsman."

For its part, China seemingly sought to frame the Turkish visit with state-run China Daily newspaper quoting Erdogan as telling Chinese leaders that "It is a fact that the people of all ethnicities in Xinjiang are leading a happy life amid China's development and prosperity."

Turkey has in the past sought unsuccessfully to mediate tensions in Xinjiang in part by agreeing with Beijing on an investment program in the Chinese region.

For Turkey, the visit amounts to a risky gamble.

A Turkish confirmation of the extent of the crackdown would position Erdogan as a leader willing to defend Muslim causes that other leaders have chosen to ignore much like he attempted last year to take the lead on denouncing US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Turkey earlier this year briefly appeared to be willing to take on the Xinjiang issue when its foreign ministry harshly condemned Chinese policy but has largely remained silent since.

In response to the criticism, China temporarily closed its consulate in the Mediterranean port city of Izmir, warned Chinese residents and travellers to Turkey to “Be wary and pay attention to their personal safety,” and threatened further economic retaliation.

If Turkey, on the basis of the visit, were to endorse China’s assertion that it is countering extremism by offering voluntary vocational training to Turkic Muslims, it would be granting a significant victory to China given Turkey’s ethnic and cultural ties to the Xinjiang Muslim community.

It would project Erdogan as just one more Muslim leader who for economic and commercial reasons was willing to cold-shoulder co-religionists in a time of need.

An endorsement would group Erdogan with men like Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman who earlier this year during a visit to Beijing recognized China’s right to undertake "anti-terrorism" and "de-extremism" measures and Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan and Indonesian president Joko Widodo who professed to be unaware of the situation in Xinjiang.

Trying to balance Turkey’s position as a safe haven for Turkic Muslims while maintaining close ties to China, Turkey last month said it had granted 146,000 residence permits to members of various Turkic communities, including an estimated 35,000 Uyghurs.

“You don’t need to worry. I want you to know that we will use every chance in favour of you to provide that you will reach tomorrow as citizens of the Republic of Turkey, brotherly and sisterly,” interior minister Suleyman Soylu told a breaking of the Ramadan fast dinner.

China’s past attempts to convince foreign diplomats even if they remained publicly silent and journalists of its version of events by taking them on guided tours of Xinjiang have largely produced moderate results at best.

How Turkey handles the visit to Xinjiang is likely to resonate in major parts of the Islamic world.

The delegation’s conclusion is likely to come as pressure plays out on the Sudanese military by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to revisit several Turkish contracts concluded with ousted president Omar al-Bashir, including the development of Khartoum airport and a port on Suakin Island.

The port project would put Turkey too close for comfort to the Saudi Red Sea coast and challenge the UAE’s effort to dominate East African ports.

Turkish criticism of China could also complicate efforts by Central Asian governments to ignore Xinjiang even if ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks and other Central Asians are among the detainees in the Chinese region, sparking anti-Chinese sentiment in former Soviet republics.

Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping a day before leaders of the eight Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries gathered in Bishkek last month, described the situation in Xinjiang as an “internal (Chinese) matter.”

The SCO groups Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan.

A critical Turkish stance could further aggravate problems, at least in Kyrgyzstan, stemming from China’s promotion of a non-competitive Xinjiang-based company competing for a major infrastructure project.

China’s insistence that TBEA, a little-known contractor with at best modest experience in building and repairing power stations, be granted a $386 million contract to refurbish Bishkek’s ageing plant has landed former Kyrgyz prime minister Sapar Isakov in court on corruption charges.

TBEA was awarded the contract despite lower bids by a competing Chinese company and a Russian company with an established track record.

It was not clear to what degree the push for TBEA was driven by an effort to line the pockets of corrupt officials and/or geopolitical objectives. China sees Central Asia and Pakistan as key drivers of economic development in Xinjiang.

Said Yang Shu, head of the Institute for Central Asia Studies at Lanzhou University in north-western China, commenting on Chinese strategy: “For countries that have good relations with China and have similar problems, it is easy for both to reach consensus on the Xinjiang issue. For other countries, explanations will not have much effect… But overall, it’s better to do it than not to do it.”

After vacillating between silence and criticism, the Turkish visit is likely to determine where Turkey really stands. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

An official Turkish visit to the troubled north-western Chinese province of Xinjiang to assess reports of a brutal crackdown on the region’s Turkic Muslims could shape Turkey’s challenge to conservative Gulf states’ leadership of the Islamic world and complicate Muslim silence about the most frontal assault on their faith in recent history.

An official Turkish visit to the troubled north-western Chinese province of Xinjiang to assess reports of a brutal crackdown on the region’s Turkic Muslims could shape Turkey’s challenge to conservative Gulf states’ leadership of the Islamic world and complicate Muslim silence about the most frontal assault on their faith in recent history. The visit to assess the situation in Xinjiang was agreed in talks with Chinese leaders when Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the issue during a recent visit to Beijing. Erdogan appeared to set the tone for the visit by declaring that it was possible to "Find a solution to this issue that takes into consideration the sensitivities on both sides." Walking a fine line, Erdogan went on to say that "those who exploit the issue…by acting emotionally without thinking of the relationship that Turkey has with another country, unfortunately, end up costing both the Turkish republic and their kinsman." For its part, China seemingly sought to frame the Turkish visit with state-run China Daily newspaper quoting Erdogan as telling Chinese leaders that "It is a fact that the people of all ethnicities in Xinjiang are leading a happy life amid China's development and prosperity." Turkey has in the past sought unsuccessfully to mediate tensions in Xinjiang in part by agreeing with Beijing on an investment program in the Chinese region. For Turkey, the visit amounts to a risky gamble. A Turkish confirmation of the extent of the crackdown would position Erdogan as a leader willing to defend Muslim causes that other leaders have chosen to ignore much like he attempted last year to take the lead on denouncing US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Turkey earlier this year briefly appeared to be willing to take on the Xinjiang issue when its foreign ministry harshly condemned Chinese policy but has largely remained silent since. In response to the criticism, China temporarily closed its consulate in the Mediterranean port city of Izmir, warned Chinese residents and travellers to Turkey to “Be wary and pay attention to their personal safety,” and threatened further economic retaliation. If Turkey, on the basis of the visit, were to endorse China’s assertion that it is countering extremism by offering voluntary vocational training to Turkic Muslims, it would be granting a significant victory to China given Turkey’s ethnic and cultural ties to the Xinjiang Muslim community. It would project Erdogan as just one more Muslim leader who for economic and commercial reasons was willing to cold-shoulder co-religionists in a time of need. An endorsement would group Erdogan with men like Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman who earlier this year during a visit to Beijing recognized China’s right to undertake "anti-terrorism" and "de-extremism" measures and Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan and Indonesian president Joko Widodo who professed to be unaware of the situation in Xinjiang. Trying to balance Turkey’s position as a safe haven for Turkic Muslims while maintaining close ties to China, Turkey last month said it had granted 146,000 residence permits to members of various Turkic communities, including an estimated 35,000 Uyghurs. “You don’t need to worry. I want you to know that we will use every chance in favour of you to provide that you will reach tomorrow as citizens of the Republic of Turkey, brotherly and sisterly,” interior minister Suleyman Soylu told a breaking of the Ramadan fast dinner. China’s past attempts to convince foreign diplomats even if they remained publicly silent and journalists of its version of events by taking them on guided tours of Xinjiang have largely produced moderate results at best. How Turkey handles the visit to Xinjiang is likely to resonate in major parts of the Islamic world. The delegation’s conclusion is likely to come as pressure plays out on the Sudanese military by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to revisit several Turkish contracts concluded with ousted president Omar al-Bashir, including the development of Khartoum airport and a port on Suakin Island. The port project would put Turkey too close for comfort to the Saudi Red Sea coast and challenge the UAE’s effort to dominate East African ports. Turkish criticism of China could also complicate efforts by Central Asian governments to ignore Xinjiang even if ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks and other Central Asians are among the detainees in the Chinese region, sparking anti-Chinese sentiment in former Soviet republics. Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping a day before leaders of the eight Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries gathered in Bishkek last month, described the situation in Xinjiang as an “internal (Chinese) matter.” The SCO groups Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan. A critical Turkish stance could further aggravate problems, at least in Kyrgyzstan, stemming from China’s promotion of a non-competitive Xinjiang-based company competing for a major infrastructure project. China’s insistence that TBEA, a little-known contractor with at best modest experience in building and repairing power stations, be granted a $386 million contract to refurbish Bishkek’s ageing plant has landed former Kyrgyz prime minister Sapar Isakov in court on corruption charges. TBEA was awarded the contract despite lower bids by a competing Chinese company and a Russian company with an established track record. It was not clear to what degree the push for TBEA was driven by an effort to line the pockets of corrupt officials and/or geopolitical objectives. China sees Central Asia and Pakistan as key drivers of economic development in Xinjiang. Said Yang Shu, head of the Institute for Central Asia Studies at Lanzhou University in north-western China, commenting on Chinese strategy: “For countries that have good relations with China and have similar problems, it is easy for both to reach consensus on the Xinjiang issue. For other countries, explanations will not have much effect… But overall, it’s better to do it than not to do it.” After vacillating between silence and criticism, the Turkish visit is likely to determine where Turkey really stands. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

For Turkey, Xinjiang visit amounts to a risky gamble

A Turkish-Chinese spat as a result of Turkish criticism of China’s crackdown on Turkic Muslims in its strategic but troubled north-western province of Xinjiang complicates efforts by Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states to at best deal quietly behind closed doors with the plight of their citizens and ethnic kin in the People’s Republic.

China’s threat that the Turkish criticism of its massive surveillance and detention campaign, involving the alleged incarceration in re-education camps of up to one million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims would have economic consequences and the temporary closure of the Chinese consulate in the Mediterranean port city of Izmir serves as warnings to others in the Muslim world what could happen if they break their silence.

The Chinese effort to get the Muslim and broader international community to maintain silence, if not acquiesce in the crackdown that constitutes the most frontal assault on Islam in recent history, was boosted when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on a visit to Beijing last month appeared to endorse Chinese policy.

Prince Salman’s endorsement of China's right to undertake "anti-terrorism" and "de-extremism" measures was widely seen as tacit support for the crackdown by the custodian of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

China has denied allegations of widespread abuse of human rights and insisted that the camps are re-education and training facilities that have stopped attacks by Islamist militants and separatists.

The Crown Prince’s remarks contrasted starkly with the characterisation last month of the crackdown by Turkey’s foreign ministry &nbsp;as an “embarrassment to humanity,” the ministry demanded that Chinese authorities respect the human rights of the Uyghurs and close what it termed “concentration camps.”&nbsp;

Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called twice last week on China to make a distinction between perpetrators of political violence and innocent civilians while insisting that Turkey wished to continue cooperation with the People’s Republic.

“The fact that we have a problem with China on an issue should not necessarily hinder our cooperation on other matters,” Cavusoglu said.

Turkey is hoping that Chinese investment in nuclear, e-commerce, finance, and infrastructure will narrow its gaping trade deficit with China that last year stood at $17.8 billion.

That is not how China appeared to envision its future relationship with Turkey.

“There may be disagreements or misunderstandings between friends, but we should solve them through dialogue. Criticising your friend publicly everywhere is not a constructive approach,” said Chinese ambassador to Turkey Deng Li.

“The most important issue between countries is mutual respect. Would you stay friends if your friend criticized you publicly every day?” Deng asked.

“If you choose a non-constructive path, it will negatively affect mutual trust and understanding and will be reflected in commercial and economic relations,” Deng added.

Deng’s comments were not only designed to whip Turkey back into line but also to prevent Central Asian nations from speaking out despite mounting domestic pressure.

Deng’s comments reflected greater Chinese intolerance for criticism of its crackdown amid attempts to convince the international community by taking diplomats and journalists on carefully managed tours of Xinjiang that one participant called a “dog and pony show.”

The ambassador’s rings particularly loud in Kazakhstan whose ethnic kin constitute the second largest Muslim community in Xinjiang after the Uyghurs.

A former re-education camp employee, Sayragul Sauytbay, who fled to Kazakhstan told a Kazakh court last year that she was aware of some 7,5000 Kazakh nationals and Chinese of Kazakh descent being incarcerated.

Atajurt Eriktileri, a Kazakh group that supports relatives of people who have disappeared in Xinjiang, says it has documented more than 10,000 cases of ethnic Kazakhs interned in China. The Xinjiang Victims Database says it has collected some 3,000 testimonies of prisoners and their families, half of which are from ethnic Kazakhs.

Askar Azatbek, a former Xinjiang official who became a Kazakh citizen, went missing in December after allegedly having been kidnapped while on the Kazakh side of Khorgos, a free-trade zone on the border with China.

So has Qalymbek Shahman an ethnic Kazakh Xinjiang businessman who was refused entry into Kazakhstan, sent to Uzbekistan and disappeared in Thailand to where he was returned by Uzbek authorities. Shahman hasn’t been heard from since.

"I wanted to go to Kazakhstan because China's human rights record was making life intolerable," Shahman said in a videotape from Tashkent airport before being forced to fly to Thailand, which has a track record of complying with Chinese repatriation requests.

For now, Central Asian leaders are walking a tightrope. Officially, they insist that Xinjiang is a Chinese internal affair. At the same time, the leaders are trying to curb domestic criticism.

Serikzhan Bilash, the head of Atajurt Eriktileri, was fined in February by an Almaty court for operating an unregistered organisation.

Sauytbay has fired her lawyer after he became unreachable at key moments in her asylum application and encouraged her to not talk about it publicly. “I don’t want to talk…until I have some kind of protection. I’d prefer that protection to come from Kazakhstan, but I might need help from other countries,” Sautbay said.

Sauytbay is certain to hope that Turkey’s willingness to confront China, if maintained, makes Central Asia’s tightrope act increasingly risky, particularly in an environment in which public criticism of the crackdown, anti-Chinese sentiment and social and economic discontent are meshing.

 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

A Turkish-Chinese spat as a result of Turkish criticism of China’s crackdown on Turkic Muslims in its strategic but troubled north-western province of Xinjiang complicates efforts by Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states to at best deal quietly behind closed doors with the plight of their citizens and ethnic kin in the People’s Republic.

A Turkish-Chinese spat as a result of Turkish criticism of China’s crackdown on Turkic Muslims in its strategic but troubled north-western province of Xinjiang complicates efforts by Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states to at best deal quietly behind closed doors with the plight of their citizens and ethnic kin in the People’s Republic. China’s threat that the Turkish criticism of its massive surveillance and detention campaign, involving the alleged incarceration in re-education camps of up to one million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims would have economic consequences and the temporary closure of the Chinese consulate in the Mediterranean port city of Izmir serves as warnings to others in the Muslim world what could happen if they break their silence. The Chinese effort to get the Muslim and broader international community to maintain silence, if not acquiesce in the crackdown that constitutes the most frontal assault on Islam in recent history, was boosted when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on a visit to Beijing last month appeared to endorse Chinese policy. Prince Salman’s endorsement of China's right to undertake "anti-terrorism" and "de-extremism" measures was widely seen as tacit support for the crackdown by the custodian of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. China has denied allegations of widespread abuse of human rights and insisted that the camps are re-education and training facilities that have stopped attacks by Islamist militants and separatists. The Crown Prince’s remarks contrasted starkly with the characterisation last month of the crackdown by Turkey’s foreign ministry as an “embarrassment to humanity,” the ministry demanded that Chinese authorities respect the human rights of the Uyghurs and close what it termed “concentration camps.” Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called twice last week on China to make a distinction between perpetrators of political violence and innocent civilians while insisting that Turkey wished to continue cooperation with the People’s Republic. “The fact that we have a problem with China on an issue should not necessarily hinder our cooperation on other matters,” Cavusoglu said. Turkey is hoping that Chinese investment in nuclear, e-commerce, finance, and infrastructure will narrow its gaping trade deficit with China that last year stood at $17.8 billion. That is not how China appeared to envision its future relationship with Turkey. “There may be disagreements or misunderstandings between friends, but we should solve them through dialogue. Criticising your friend publicly everywhere is not a constructive approach,” said Chinese ambassador to Turkey Deng Li. “The most important issue between countries is mutual respect. Would you stay friends if your friend criticized you publicly every day?” Deng asked. “If you choose a non-constructive path, it will negatively affect mutual trust and understanding and will be reflected in commercial and economic relations,” Deng added. Deng’s comments were not only designed to whip Turkey back into line but also to prevent Central Asian nations from speaking out despite mounting domestic pressure. Deng’s comments reflected greater Chinese intolerance for criticism of its crackdown amid attempts to convince the international community by taking diplomats and journalists on carefully managed tours of Xinjiang that one participant called a “dog and pony show.” The ambassador’s rings particularly loud in Kazakhstan whose ethnic kin constitute the second largest Muslim community in Xinjiang after the Uyghurs. A former re-education camp employee, Sayragul Sauytbay, who fled to Kazakhstan told a Kazakh court last year that she was aware of some 7,5000 Kazakh nationals and Chinese of Kazakh descent being incarcerated. Atajurt Eriktileri, a Kazakh group that supports relatives of people who have disappeared in Xinjiang, says it has documented more than 10,000 cases of ethnic Kazakhs interned in China. The Xinjiang Victims Database says it has collected some 3,000 testimonies of prisoners and their families, half of which are from ethnic Kazakhs. Askar Azatbek, a former Xinjiang official who became a Kazakh citizen, went missing in December after allegedly having been kidnapped while on the Kazakh side of Khorgos, a free-trade zone on the border with China. So has Qalymbek Shahman an ethnic Kazakh Xinjiang businessman who was refused entry into Kazakhstan, sent to Uzbekistan and disappeared in Thailand to where he was returned by Uzbek authorities. Shahman hasn’t been heard from since. "I wanted to go to Kazakhstan because China's human rights record was making life intolerable," Shahman said in a videotape from Tashkent airport before being forced to fly to Thailand, which has a track record of complying with Chinese repatriation requests. For now, Central Asian leaders are walking a tightrope. Officially, they insist that Xinjiang is a Chinese internal affair. At the same time, the leaders are trying to curb domestic criticism. Serikzhan Bilash, the head of Atajurt Eriktileri, was fined in February by an Almaty court for operating an unregistered organisation. Sauytbay has fired her lawyer after he became unreachable at key moments in her asylum application and encouraged her to not talk about it publicly. “I don’t want to talk…until I have some kind of protection. I’d prefer that protection to come from Kazakhstan, but I might need help from other countries,” Sautbay said. Sauytbay is certain to hope that Turkey’s willingness to confront China, if maintained, makes Central Asia’s tightrope act increasingly risky, particularly in an environment in which public criticism of the crackdown, anti-Chinese sentiment and social and economic discontent are meshing. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Turkish-Chinese spat puts Asian leaders on the spot

After decades of persecution of the ethnic group of Xinjiang, the Uyghurs, by China, the country&nbsp;has now&nbsp;moved on to a new&nbsp;target -&nbsp;the ethnic Kazakhs, living on the border with Kazakhstan.

The Chinese government had already denied the Uyghurs&nbsp;the basic right to&nbsp;practice their&nbsp;own religion, the country is now targetting the&nbsp;Kazakhs&nbsp;on the grounds of religion with the objective of forcing them to stop following their Islamic customs.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-asks-christians-to-replace-christ-with-president-xi-jinping-24285" target="_blank">China asks Christians to replace image of Christ with President Xi&#39;s</a>

Reports state that since the last one year the Kazakh community in Xinjiang is experiencing several restrictions from the Chinese security agencies. These restrictions are especially concerning the religious customs of the community. Reports have also indicated that those Chinese authorities have confiscated over a thousand Kazakh families Korans, prayer mats, and other religious articles.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also, the presence of security forces has increased in the area.&nbsp;

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China is targetting the Kazakh community on the grounds of religion with the objective of forcing them to stop following their Islamic customs

After decades of persecution of the ethnic group of Xinjiang, the Uyghurs, by China, the country has now moved on to a new target - the ethnic Kazakhs, living on the border with Kazakhstan. The Chinese government had already denied the Uyghurs the basic right to practice their own religion, the country is now targetting the Kazakhs on the grounds of religion with the objective of forcing them to stop following their Islamic customs. Also read: China asks Christians to replace image of Christ with President Xi's Reports state that since the last one year the Kazakh community in Xinjiang is experiencing several restrictions from the Chinese security agencies. These restrictions are especially concerning the religious customs of the community. Reports have also indicated that those Chinese authorities have confiscated over a thousand Kazakh families Korans, prayer mats, and other religious articles. Also, the presence of security forces has increased in the area.

After Uyghurs, China now suppresses Kazakh religious freedom

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