China’s policies against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the northwest region of Xinjiang provoked a worldwide criticism. As reported by activists and human rights organisations, the Chinese regime operates internment camps where more than a million people are imprisoned.
AFP reports that China had invited European diplomats to visit the region.
“In order to enhance the understanding of the achievements of Xinjiang’s economic and social development in Europe… the Chinese side invited the diplomatic envoys of European countries to visit Xinjiang,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters.
According to the Chinese official Beijing hopes the EU diplomats will “experience the stability and harmony of Xinjiang and the real situation of people of all nationalities living and working in peace and contentment”.
Although China claims the internment camps are “vocational training centres” the reality is different. According to the UN, human rights NGOs, as well as the Uyghur World Congress more than one million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Mongolians and other Muslims, are being held in concentration like camps.
People are interned for simply observing religious traditions.
The persecution is extended to families, women and children and has the dimension of ethnic cleansing.
In October 2018, following systematic and arbitrary mass detentions of members of the Uyghur, Kazakh and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region by Chinese authorities, MEPs demanded the immediate end to such practices and that those detained under such circumstances must be released unconditionally.
They also urged the Chinese government to close all camps and detention centres in the area and expressed their deep concern at reports of state harassment and intimidation of Uyghurs abroad.
