Washington DC [US], March 17 (ANI): The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) has strongly condemned the People’s Republic of China for what it described as “hypocrisy” in marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, accusing Beijing of trying to deflect attention from its policies in East Turkistan.
In an official statement, the ETGE said China’s public opposition to Islamophobia contradicts its actions, particularly after adopting an “Ethnic Unity Law” it alleges is being used to force assimilation and erase the religious and cultural identities of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Turkic Muslim communities. The ETGE said the law “criminalises religious and cultural diversity,” imposes Han Chinese language, culture, and ideology, and forms part of a broader strategy of “colonial domination,” violating international norms on racial and religious discrimination.
The ETGE highlighted what it described as long-standing repression, saying Chinese authorities have tightly controlled Islamic practice for decades. It alleged mosques and religious sites have been destroyed, Islamic texts removed, and practices such as prayer, fasting, and traditional greetings restricted or criminalised.
The statement also claimed millions of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims have faced arbitrary detention, imprisonment, and forced labour, and that officially sanctioned religious institutions operate under strict state control as “showcases” aligned with policy rather than genuine centres of worship.
According to the ETGE, Chinese authorities justify these measures through counter-terrorism and “de-extremification” policies that disproportionately target people because of their ethnic and religious identity, and that officials have portrayed Islamic beliefs negatively to legitimise such actions.
Labeling China a “leading state perpetrator of Islamophobia,” the ETGE said Beijing’s remarks on combating Islamophobia aim to “mislead the international community” and divert attention from alleged human rights abuses. It called on the international community, especially Muslim-majority countries and organisations, to reject what it termed China’s “deceptive narrative” and to support the rights of people in East Turkistan, including calls for self-determination and restoration of sovereignty.
The Chinese government has consistently rejected allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, stating its policies seek to counter extremism, promote development, and ensure social stability. (ANI)
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