Washington, D.C., March 17 — The East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) has sharply criticized the People’s Republic of China for what it called hypocrisy in marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, accusing Beijing of using the observance to deflect attention from its conduct in East Turkistan.
In an official statement, the ETGE said China’s public stance against Islamophobia conflicts with its domestic policies, pointing to an “Ethnic Unity Law” it says is being used to force assimilation and erase the religious and cultural identity of Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Turkic Muslim groups. The ETGE asserted the law “criminalises religious and cultural diversity,” compels adoption of Han language, culture and ideology, and forms part of a broader strategy of colonial domination that violates international norms on racial and religious discrimination.
The group reiterated long-standing accusations of repression in the region, saying Chinese authorities have tightly restricted Islamic practice for decades. The statement alleged mosques and religious sites have been destroyed, Islamic texts removed, and acts such as prayer, fasting and traditional greetings restricted or criminalised.
The ETGE further claimed that millions of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims have been subject to arbitrary detention, imprisonment and forced labour, and that official religious institutions operate under strict state control as managed “showcases” rather than independent centres of worship. It said Beijing frames these measures as counter-terrorism and “de-extremification” policies, which in practice disproportionately target people on the basis of ethnic and religious identity.
Labeling China a “leading state perpetrator of Islamophobia,” the ETGE accused Beijing of attempting to mislead the international community and urged other countries—especially Muslim-majority states and international organisations—to reject what it called 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 repeatedly rejected allegations of rights abuses in Xinjiang, saying its policies aim to counter extremism, promote development and ensure social stability. (ANI)
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