On Wednesday, the United Nations released a devastating report on China’s human rights abuses against Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in the western region of Xinjiang.
The following is a brief description of the region and its inhabitants.
Where is Xinjiang located?
Huge region. xinjiang spreads in the far west China and makes up one sixth of its continental surface.
Its population of about 26 million is ethnically diverse. UighursKazakhs, Kyrgyz and other minorities.
A rich region with deserts, grasslands and mountain ranges, xinjiang It borders eight countries including Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Located on the ancient Silk Road, the region has important natural resources such as coal, oil and gas, as well as valuable minerals and metals.
The region has been in and out of Chinese rule for centuries, but returned to Beijing’s orbit when the Communist Party launched a military settlement program after taking power in 1949.
Who are the Uighurs?
Uighurs they are a majority Muslim ethnic group who speak a Turkic language and are culturally closer to the communities of Central Asia than to Beijing.
About 12 million people live in xinjiangwhich is 45% of the population. Its cultural cradle is located in the arid south of the region.
In 1953 Uighurs made up 75% of the city’s population. xinjiang, according to the census cited in the UN report. On the other hand, the Han ethnic group has increased from 7% to 42%.
Historically, some Uighurs they opposed Chinese control and promoted the creation of an independent country known as East Turkestan.
They also condemn Beijing’s curtailment of cultural and religious manifestations. Uighurs and mainly enriched the Han population with development projects xinjiang.
Why is Beijing acting against them?
The Chinese authorities have stepped up security measures in xinjiang in recent years in what she calls a campaign against separatism and Islamist extremism.
In 2009 there were violent clashes between Uighurs and the Han caused the deaths of 200 people in the regional capital of Urumqi.
The following years saw a series of apparent attacks, including the 2013 Beijing Tiananmen Square attack and the 2014 Urumqi train station suicide bombing.
Authorities have responded with a campaign of “hard hits” on suspected terrorism, setting up checkpoints in cities around the world. xinjiangraiding homes and banning certain expressions of the Islamic faith.
This campaign has intensified since 2017, when Beijing called for the eradication of extremism once and for all.
What are they accused of China?
Beijing accused of imprisoning a million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in the network of detention centers in xinjiang.
activists and Uighurs in exile denounce the many abuses in these centers, from torture to forced labor, forced sterilization and political indoctrination.
The UN report cites “credible” evidence of torture, forced treatment, or sexual abuse.
But he did not call these actions “genocide”, as the United States or the parliaments of Western countries did.
China defines these accusations as “the lie of the century” and insists that his actions in xinjiang they helped prevent extremism and stimulate development.
According to the scheme, the network of institutions is a voluntary registration of training centers.
(According to AFP)
UN believes China may have committed crimes against humanity with Uyghurs | Font: EFE
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I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.