China Uighurs: Xinjiang legalises ‘re-education’ camps

China’s western Xinjiang region has written “vocational training centres” for Muslim Uighurs into law amid growing international concern over large-scale disappearances there. Xinjiang says the centres will tackle extremism through “thought transformation”. Rights groups say detainees are made to swear loyalty to President Xi Jinping and criticise or renounce their faith. In August, China denied […]

China’s western Xinjiang region has written “vocational training centres” for Muslim Uighurs into law amid growing international concern over large-scale disappearances there.
Xinjiang says the centres will tackle extremism through “thought transformation”.
Rights groups say detainees are made to swear loyalty to President Xi Jinping and criticise or renounce their faith.
In August, China denied allegations that it had locked up a million people. But officials attending a UN human rights meeting admitted that Uighurs “deceived by religious extremism” were undergoing re-education and resettlement.
Xinjiang has seen cycles of violence and crackdowns for years. China accuses militants and separatists of orchestrating the trouble.
Xinjiang’s new legislation is the first detailed indication of what China is doing in the region.
It says examples of behaviour that could lead to detention include expanding the concept of halal – which means permissible in Islam – to areas of life outside diet, refusing to watch state TV and listen to state radio and preventing children from receiving state education. (BBC)