22 mostly European countries write to president of UN Human Rights Council, rebuke mass detention of Muslims
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and 36 other states have written to the United Nations this week supporting China’s policies in its western province of Xinjiang after 22 mostly Western countries rebuked Beijing’s mass detention of Muslims in the restive region.
Last year, the
United Nations said it had credible evidence that over one million ethnic
Uighur and other Muslims in China were being held against their will, and
without trial, in what resembled a “massive internment camp that is shrouded in
secrecy.”
China denies this charge, saying the facilities are vocational training centers
in Xinjiang, a vast region bordering central Asia that is home to millions of
ethnic minority Muslims. Beijing insists the measures are needed to stem the
threat of Islamist extremism.
This week, 22 mostly European ambassadors signed a letter to the United Nations
Human Rights Council criticizing Chinese policies. In response, ambassadors of
37 states, including Pakistan and others from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and
Latin America jointly signed a letter to the president of the Council praising
China’s “contribution to the international human rights cause.”
“Faced with the grave challenge of terrorism and extremism, China has
undertaken a series of counter-terrorism and deradicalization measures in
Xinjiang, including setting up vocational education and training centers,” the
letter said.
The letter added that security had returned to Xinjiang and the fundamental
human rights of people of all ethnic groups there had been safeguarded. It also
said there had been no terrorist attack in the region for three years and
people enjoyed a stronger sense of happiness, fulfillment and security.
Beijing has denied any human rights violations in the region and Chinese
Ambassador Xu Chen, speaking at the close of the Council’s three-week session
on Friday, said China highly appreciated the support it had received from the
37 signatories.