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02/19/2021

10 imperialist lies about China’s Uyghur population, and the truth

10 imperialist lies about China’s Uyghur population, and the truth

The USA is using Uyghur separatism to try and destabilize China. The Biden administration has launched a campaign of lies through the İyi Party and HDP in order to drive a wedge between Turkey and China. In this article we will refute 10 imperialist lies and present the facts alongside the evidence

Lie # 1: China is committing genocide against Uygurs

Fact: The top official who authored this lie is former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The day before leaving the office, Pompeo issued the statement and explained his duties while he was the CIA Director, “We lied, cheated, stole,” (1)

According to Li Xiaoxia, special researcher of Xinjiang Development Research Center, the population of ethnic minorities including the Uygurs in Xinjiang have seen steady growth, while the Han ethnic group in Xinjiang has only slightly increased from 2010 to 2018. In terms of population, from 2010 to 2018, the permanent resident population of Xinjiang increased from 21.8158 million to 24.8676 million, an increase of 3.0518 million, or 13.99%. Among them, the population of ethnic minorities increased from 12.9859 million to 15.8608 million, an increase of 2.8749 million, or 22.14%; from the perspective of ethnic groups, the Uygur population increased from 10.1715 million to 12.7184 million, an increase of 2.5469 million, or 25.04%; the population of Han ethnic group increased from 8.8299 million to 9.0068 million, an increase of 176,900 people, or 2.0%. As can be seen, it is a huge lie that the Uyghur population is being eradicated. (2)

Xinjiang has achieved unprecedented success in economic and social development over the past 70 years. The big leap forward has been made in improving the means of livelihood of Uyghurs. The GDP in Xinjiang grew 7.2% from 2014 to 2019, higher than the overall growth rate in China.

Regardless of their population, the rights of all ethnic groups are constitutionally guaranteed in China. All citizens and ethnic communities, regardless of their ethnic origin, have the right to participate in the government of the state, to enjoy the freedom of belief, to receive education in their own language, to use their own language in broadcasting, to develop their culture and to preserve their traditions. (3)

Lie # 2: China forcibly sterilizes Uyghur women

Fact: It was Adrian Zenz, an American official, who shouted this lie in the highest pitch. He published reports claiming that the Xinjiang administration imposed “forced sterilization” on Uygur women, which resulted in a sharp decline in the Uygur population. (4)

Attention please. Adrian Zenz is not a “Chinese expert”, but a salaried employee of the extreme rightist, “Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation” supported by the US government, and an infamous racist and propagandist.

Assoc. Lin Fangfei, faculty member of the Politics and Public Administration Department in Xinjiang University, found that Adrian Zenz’s “reports” were full of fabrication and data manipulation. As a “proof” of forced sterilization, Zenz fabricated that at least 80% of the new surgeries of IUD placements in China were performed in Xinjiang in 2018. Moreover, based on this fictitious evidence, he claims that the natural population growth rate in Khotan and Kashgar was only 2.58 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2018. However, Lin found out that according to the official data published by the National Health Commission, in 2018, the new surgeries of IUD placement nationwide was 3,774,318 and it was 328,475 in Xinjiang. Therefore, the new surgeries in Xinjiang only accounted for 8.7% of the national total. The 80% claim is another outright lie. (5)

Lie # 3: China is containing the Uygurs as ae pretext for fighting terrorism

Fact: The US-backed Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) carried out thousands of terrorist acts in the Uyghur Autonomous Region from 1990 to 2016. They killed numerous innocent civilians and several hundred police officers and caused heavy financial losses. Therewith, the Chinese government took a series of effective measures to prevent terrorism in the region and to enlighten the people about Salafist propaganda.

Terrorism has no religious or ethnic origin. The Chinese government strictly adopts and applies the principle of not associating terrorism with any region, ethnic group or religion. Within the framework of the law, it fights against acts of violence and terrorism that aim to violate human rights, to endanger public security, to undermine ethnic unity and to split the country.

According to official Chinese reports, since 2014, 1,588 violent and terrorist groups have been detected, 12,995 violent terrorists arrested, and 2,052 explosive devices seized in total. Such operations have effectively curbed the infiltration of extremism, significantly improved public security, and protected the right to life, right to health, right to development, and other basic rights of people of all ethnic groups. Xinjiang has reported no violent terrorist cases for more than four consecutive years. (6)

Lie # 4: Millions of Uyghur Muslims are being held in “concentration camps”

Fact: A “concentration camp” has never been established in Xinjiang. In the white book titled “Vocational education and training in Xinjiang” published by the Chinese Government, we can read refutation of the lies on this subject: Temporary education institutions were established to provide enlightenment training in order to fight terrorism and prevent radicalization. The purpose of vocational education and training centers established in accordance with the law was to eliminate the breeding ground of terrorism and extremism.

As the Chinese government has repeatedly announced, vocational education and training centers have set a curriculum that includes standard spoken and written Chinese, an understanding of constitutional rights and law, and professional skills development. On October 1, 2019, these centers completed their work and all trainees graduated. Most of those who graduated from training centers found stable jobs and lead a peaceful life. (7)

Tunç Akkoç, Chairman of the Board of Aydınlık, visited these training centers with a group of Turkish journalists in July 2019 and published the facts in a series in Aydınlık over the course of a week. (8)

A boarding education model has been implemented that allows trainees to return home regularly, ask for permission to participate in their personal affairs, and enjoy freedom of correspondence. All trainees were included in public pension and health insurance schemes and were entitled to free medical examinations.

Lie # 5: The Chinese government puts a Chinese man in every Uygur home, forcing Uygur women into sexual servitude

Fact: The center that spread this lie fabricated by TIP is again a US organization: Human Rights Watch. (9) The Xinjiang government has been conducting an “ethnic unity campaign” and solidarity activities among officials and people from different ethnic groups since 2016. The official name of this campaign is “Visit People, Help People and Bring People’s Hearts Together” (访 民情 、 惠 民生 、 聚 民心). In this context, 1 million 100 thousand officials were paired with 1 million 600,000 people from different ethnic groups. They were considered “relatives” and became friends with each other. Han-origin officials matched with various ethnic groups, including some Uyghurs. (10)

Lie # 6: China is implementing a systematic assimilation policy to erase Uyghur culture

Fact: The cultural heritage of all ethnic groups is protected in Xinjiang. Buildings representing the prominent historical and cultural heritage of Uyghurs, Mongols, Hui, Shibes and other ethnic groups are regularly maintained and renovated as needed. The Apak Hodja Tomb in Kashgar, the Tugluk Timur Tomb in Khorgos, the Shengyou Temple in Mongolküre, the “Blue Palace – Höh Yaman” and the Cimtoğrak Mansion of the Mongolian Prince Turgut Han in Hejing have all been restored and preserved.

Traditional cultural events such as the “Mesrep” of the Uygurs, the “Aytes” of the Kazakhs, the “Kopuz Balad Song Festival” of the Kyrgyz, the “Naadam Festival” of the Mongols, the “West Journey Festival” of the Shibs and the “Red Lantern Festival” of the Khans are widely held. Rich and impressive epics of ethnic cultures such as “Garip and Senem” of Uyghurs, “Aytes” of Kazakhs and “Manas epic” of Kyrgyz are dramatized and staged. Beef and mutton given to Muslims are slaughtered, processed, stored, transported and sold according to Islamic customs. All Muslim groups have legal holidays during Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.

Currently, people from all ethnic groups in Xinjiang use 10 spoken and written languages. Ethnic minority languages ​​are widely used in a variety of sectors, including the judiciary, administration, education, press and broadcasting, radio and television, and the internet. Xinjiang People’s Broadcast Station broadcasts 12 radio and TV channels in five languages. These languages ​​are Chinese, Uygur, Kazakh, Mongolian and Kyrgyz. Primary and secondary schools in Xinjiang offer courses in ethnic minority languages ​​such as Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Mongolian and Shibe. There are five languages ​​on the Chinese banknotes: Chinese, Tibetan, Uyghur, Mongolian, and Zhuang.

Lie # 7: Uyghur language education banned in Xinjiang

Fact: The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the relevant law stipulate that citizens have the right to learn and use the Standard Chinese speaking and written language. The state is obliged to provide the necessary conditions for learning Chinese. While promoting Chinese language education for ethnic communities, education is provided in the spoken and written languages of ethnic minority groups in accordance with the national curriculum plan for primary and secondary schools. Primary and secondary education in Xinjiang is conducted in seven different languages. Presently, kindergartens and primary and secondary schools provide bilingual education. Besides Chinese, children receive education in Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Mongolian and Shibe languages.

Lie # 8: Xinjiang suppresses Islam and freedom of religious belief

Fact: Article 36 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China protects Chinese citizens’ freedom of religious belief and the right to worship. The classical and other religious books such as “Quran” and “Selections of Sahih from Bukhari” have been translated and published in Chinese, Uyghur, Kazakh and Kyrgyz languages. Xinjiang has the best rate in the world in terms of mosque per capita for the Muslim population. While the rate in Turkey is a thousand people for each mosque, it is five hundred people for each mosque in Xinjiang. Local governments at all levels in Xinjiang are constantly improving public services provided in mosques. The government carries out the roads, water, electricity and natural gas of mosques as a public service. Ablution facilities and flush toilets were established. Mosques were also equipped with medical services and electronic screens. Each mosque has shoe cover machines, lockers, computers, fans, air conditioners, firefighting equipment, and drinking water dispensers. On the other hand, Muslims in China can freely make pilgrimages. Since 1996, with the exception of the cancellations resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the government of the Uyghur Autonomous Region has organized special flights for pilgrimage every year, providing quality service at the entrance and exit. It provided medical care, catering services, etc. to ensure regular and safe pilgrimage activities. Yang Faming, Chairman of Chinese Islamic Society, announced that the rights of Muslims in China are guaranteed. (11)

The Xinjiang Islamic Institute, headquartered in Urumqi, has eight branches in other cities such as Kashgar, Hotan and Ili, and there are 10 theological schools in the region, including the Xinjiang Islamic School. These schools enroll 3,000 new students each year. (12)

All Muslims in Xinjiang fast in their own homes in accordance with their own creeds, laws and traditions. Fasting is seen within the scope of personal freedom. Local governments at all levels in Xinjiang are obliged to ensure the safety of both religious activities and celebrations during Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Cemeteries and events that are required by beliefs such as funeral prayers, burial and condolence activities are under protection.

Lie # 9: China is watching Muslim Uygurs everywhere with cameras, mobile phone apps and other high-tech gadgets.

Fact: The Foreign News Service of Anadolu Agency which is the official state agency of Turkey, insistently repeats this lie fabricated by American organizations. (13) The Xinjiang administration explains that it has installed cameras in urban and rural public areas, main roads, transport hubs and other public places to improve smart city management and effectively prevent crime. These measures do not target any ethnic group. It has been determined that the number of cameras per capita in Xinjiang is less than the rates in the USA, England, Germany, France and the Netherlands. (14)

Lie # 10: The Chinese government banned journalists from entering Xinjiang.

Fact: Entry and exit is free to Xinjiang. There is no ban for foreign media organizations in China to report on Xinjiang. Indeed, according to Foreign Ministry of PRC, more than 1,200 people from more than 100 countries and regions, officials from international organizations, diplomats, journalists and religious leaders have visited Xinjiang since the late of 2018. News reporters of NTV, Aydınlık, AA, Milliyet, Yeni Safak from Turkey visited the region. NBC reporters on September 3-7 in 2019 and BBC reporters in December 2020, went to Kucha County and other centers in Xinjiang. (15)

The lies of Zümrüt Davut and Mihrigül Tursun

The lies of Zümrüt Davut and Mihrigül Tursun, which Pompeo initiated, are allegedly witnesses of the “persecution of the Uygurs” in the United States and truths about them, are as follows: The BBC Newsnight program published that Zümrüt Davut was sterilized in a concentration camp. (16) However, Zümrüt Davut had never been educated in the vocational education and training center. His brother, Abduhelil David, had explained this before. (17)

Zümrüt Davut claimed on BBC screens that she was forced to be sterilized after being “released from a camp” and her uterus removed because she already had three children. However, she had signed a form to have a cesarean section and tubal ligation and then the center conducted the operation. Her uterus had not been removed. She claimed that her father was repeatedly detained, investigated by the Xinjiang authorities and recently died of unknown cause. Actually, his father had lived with his children until he died of heart disorder on October 12, 2019. He had never been questioned or detained. The lies of Zümrüt were exposed by her brothers Abduhelil Davut and Erkin Davut. (18)

On November 26 in 2018, at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, Mihrigül Tursun, another perjurer, said that he was forced to take unknown drugs in a “concentration camp” and then she was diagnosed with infertility by American doctors. (19) Two days later, she repeated the same lies in the American Senate with fake tears. (20)

The reality is as follows: Mihrigul Tursun was detained on April 21, 2017 by the Public Security Bureau of Qiemo (Çarçan) District on suspicion of committing an ethnic hate crime and inciting discrimination. During this period, it was found that she had a sexual infection. On May 10, 2017, the District Public Security Bureau finalized the cautionary judgement against her. Mihrigul was completely free while in China, except for 20 days in detention. She was never sentenced to prison or forced to take drugs. She was not educated in any vocational education and training center. There are no records to show that a sterilization was conducted in China. (21)

  1. https://www.ft.com/content/b0d613c6-fa92-48c7-ac3a-aa2614c25e9c
               
  2. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202101/1212073.shtml
               
  3. http://english.www.gov.cn/archive/lawsregulations/201911/20/content_WS5ed8856ec6d0b3f0e9499913.html
               
  4. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/07/01/china-documents-uighur-genocidal-sterilization-xinjiang/
               
  5. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-09-14/Six-lies-in-Adrian-Zenz-s-Xinjiang-report-of-genocide–TMIv2qWemA/index.html
               
  6. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-02/05/c_139723816.htm
               
  7. http://english.www.gov.cn/archive/whitepaper/201908/17/content_WS5d57573cc6d0c6695ff7ed6c.html
               
  8. https://www.aydinlik.com.tr/aydinlik-gazetesi-gitti-gordu-gercegi-uygurlardan-dinledi-ozgurluk-meydani-temmuz-2019-3#1
  9. https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/05/13/china-visiting-officials-occupy-homes-muslim-region
               
  10. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-02/05/c_139723816.htm
               
  11. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202012/1211344.shtml
               
  12. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-02/05/c_139723816.htm
               
  13. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/china-uses-us-tech-to-monitor-uyghurs-report/1400502
               
  14. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1794581.shtml
               
  15. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1794581.shtml
               
  16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZejLYkCZ3c
               
  17. https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1170249.shtml
               
  18. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-02/05/c_139723816.htm
               
  19. https://apnews.com/article/61cdf7f5dfc34575aa643523b3c6b3fe
               
  20. https://time.com/5467628/china-uighur-congress-torture/
               
  21. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-02/05/c_139723816.htm
Adnan Akfırat

Adnan Akfirat is former representative to China and Member of International Relations Bureau of the Patriotic Party of Türkiye; Chairman of Turkish-Chinese Business Development and Friendship Association (Turk-Cin Is Der); visitor researcher of Shanghai University Turkish Studies Center and Shihezi University Silk Road Research Center. Mr. Akfirat has been living in Shanghai since 2011.

4 responses to “10 imperialist lies about China’s Uyghur population, and the truth”

  1. Khoo Chin Leong says:

    Thank you for helping to debunk all these lies spread by despicable Western media. Please carry on with your honourable work.

  2. Lucas says:

    Appreciate your work

  3. Abrahim mir kashmiri says:

    All muslims should treat west rulers like waste.
    Biggest hypocrites on the face of earth currently

  4. Sabu Paul says:

    Facebook does not allow you to post this.
    The reason it gives is that this is spam.

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