Scholars condemn China for mass detention of Uyghur Muslims

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Countries must strike China with sanctions against mass detention of Uyghur ethnic groups, Hundreds of scholars said Monday, noting that a non-intervention would be a sign of the death penalty. acceptance of "psychological torture of innocent civilians".

In recent months, Beijing has faced an outcry from activists, academics and foreign governments as a result of massive detentions and strict oversight of the Muslim Uyghur minority and other ethnic groups in the troubled region of Xinjiang, in the west of the country.

In August, a UN human rights panel said it received a lot of credible information that one million or more Uighurs and other minorities would be imprisoned in what looks like an "internment camp." gigantic surrounded by secrets' in the area.

Representatives of a group of 278 academics from various disciplines in dozens of countries have called on China to end its detention policy at a press conference in Washington, as well as sanctions at the United States. against Chinese leaders and security companies related to the violations.

"This situation must be remedied to avoid creating negative precedents regarding the acceptability of a state's total repression of a segment of its population, particularly on the basis of ethnicity or nationality. religion, "said the group in a statement.

Countries must speed up the processing of asylum claims from Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, as well as "the spearhead of a movement for US action to investigate this system of mass internment and close the camps" , did he declare.

China rejects criticism of its actions in Xinjiang, claiming that it protects the religion and culture of minorities and that its security measures are necessary to counter the influence of "extremist" groups that incite violence.

The country's foreign minister, Wang Yi, said the world should ignore the "rumors" about Xinjiang and trust the government.

But after the first denials about the detention camps, Chinese officials said that people guilty of minor offenses were sent to "professional" training centers, where they acquired professional skills and legal knowledge to reduce militancy.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Tuesday that China's policy in Xinjiang stemmed entirely from the need to fight terrorism.

"We vehemently oppose any foreign force that would attempt to interfere in Xinjiang's affairs and China's domestic policy," he said at a regular press conference in Beijing.

Michael Clarke, an expert from Xinjiang at the Australian National University who signed the statement, told reporters that China was seeking international respect for its weight in international affairs.

"The international community must show in Beijing that it will not get it if it does to a significant part of its own citizens," Clarke said.