US leads condemnation of China for 'horrific' repression of Uighur Muslims

The United States led more than 30 countries on Tuesday in condemning what it calledChina's "horrific campaign ofrepression" againstMuslimsin the western region of Xinjiang at an event on the sidelines of the annual UNGeneral Assembly that was denounced byChina.

In highlighting abuses against ethnic Uighursand otherMuslimsinChina, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan said the United Nations and its member states had "a singular responsibility to speak up when survivor after survivor recounts the horrors of staterepression."

Sullivan said it was incumbent on UN member states to ensure the world body was able to closely monitor human rights abuses byChinaand added that it must seek "immediate, unhindered, and unmonitored" access to Xinjiang for the UNHigh Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR).

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Sullivan said Tuesday's event was co-sponsored by Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain, and was joined by more than 30 UNstates, representatives of the European Union and more than 20 nongovernmental organizations, as well as Uighur victims.

"We invite others to join the international effort to demand and compel an immediate end toChina’s horrific campaign ofrepression," he said. "History will judge the international community for how we respond to this attack on human rights and fundamental freedoms."

Paola Pampaloni, deputy managing director for Asia of the European External Action Service, said the EU was "alarmed" by the situation and also urged "meaningful" access to Xinjiang.

"We are concerned about ... information about mistreatment and torture... Chinais always inviting us to the camps under their conditions, we are in negotiations right now for terms and conditions for free access", she said.

On MondayUSPresident Donald Trump called for an end to religious persecution at another event on the sidelines of the UNgathering. He reiterated his comments in a speech to the General Assembly gathering of world leaders on Tuesday.

"Americans will never .. tire in our effort to promote freedom of worship and religion. We want and support religious liberty for all," he said.

Trump, who has been cautious aboutupsettingChinaon human rights issueswhile making a major trade deal with Beijing a major priority, said religious freedom was under growing threat around the world but fell short of specifically mentioning the Uighur situation.

"Volume is coming up at a pace that we hope that the Beijing government recognises not only the USbut the global concern about this situation," David Stilwell,US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs told reporters at a briefing.

"We will see how that plays out and how Beijing reacts and take it from there", he added.

A representative for the Chinese delegation to the UNGeneral Assembly accused Washington of violating the UNCharter by criticizingChina.

The United Nations says at least 1 million ethnic Uighursand otherMuslimshave been detained in whatChinadescribes as "vocational training centres" to stamp out extremism and give people new skills.

Sullivan said the United States had received "credible reports of deaths, forced labour, torture, and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment" in the camps.

He said there were also many reports that the Chinese government forces detainees to renounce their ethnic identities as well as their culture and religion.

ThoughUSofficials have ramped up criticism ofChina's measures in Xinjiang, it has refrained from responding with sanctions, amid on-again, off-again talks to resolve a bitter, costly trade war.

At the same time, it has criticized other countries, including some Muslim states, for not doing enough or for backingChina's approach in Xinjiang.

Rishat Abbas, the brother of Uighur physician Gulshan Abbas, who was abducted from her home in Urumchi in September 2018, told Tuesday's event that "millions of Uighursare becoming collateral damage to international trade policies, enablingChinato continue to threaten our freedoms around the world, enable it to continue its police state.”

UNhuman rights chief Michelle Bachelet has repeatedly pushedChinato grant the United Nations access to investigate reports of disappearances and arbitrary detentions, particularly ofMuslimsin Xinjiang.

China's envoy in Geneva said in June that he hoped Bachelet would visitChina, including Xinjiang. Bachelet's office said in June that it was discussing "full access" withChina.