As more and more the horrific injustices meted out to the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang come to light, it becomes more apparent that critical statements by the international community are not sufficient. The Muslim Association of Britain is deeply disturbed by the reports leaving China, and deplores such gross abuse of human rights. MAB is saddened by the deafening silence observed by world leaders, and calls on the British government to lead the way for diplomatic action in preventing further gross injustices.
The numerous UN and human rights groups reports warning us of China’s mass detention of the Uighurs in re-education camps echo a solemn reminder of horrors in not-too-distant past.
In what has been described as the largest mass incarceration of a minority population, Uighurs are forced to criticise and renounce their faith in a programme of political indoctrination that includes being force-fed pork, prevented from observing the fast of Ramadan and forbidden from owning religious symbols.
As the UN reports over a million Uighur Muslims held in internment camps, forced to renounce their religion and pledge allegiance to the ruling Communist Party, China is engaging in a campaign nothing short of ethnic cleansing.
MAB’s President, Anas Altikriti, said: “Reports from these concentration camps detail horrific abuses of torture, beatings, sexual violence and electrocution according to a growing body of evidence that includes witness accounts, media reports, government documents and satellite images.”
Practising Islam has been made forbidden in parts of China, with Beijing passing additional laws guiding Islam “to be compatible with socialism and implement measures to sinicize the religion.” Individuals caught praying, fasting, growing a beard or wearing a headscarf face the threat of arrest.
MAB calls on the British government to hold the People’s Republic of China to account and to call on them to ensure freedom of religion is practised and that the detained Uighurs are released.
MAB will be supporting a meeting organised by The Cordoba Foundation, held in solidarity with the Uighur Muslims this evening, 13th February, where speakers from various backgrounds will address China’s brutal crackdown on the Uighur Muslims. It also calls on its members to stand in solidarity with the persecuted people of Xinjiang.
Muslim Association of Britain
13th February 2019
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