Humairaa Mayet | 21 May 2019 | Image: Liu Weibing/Xinhua – AP
Recently allegations have arisen, claiming that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has thrown his support behind China as they crackdown on Uyghur Muslims in the north of China.
In an interview on Salaamedia, Dolkun Isa – a Uyghur politician and activist – explained the plight of the Uyghurs to Ashraf Garda. Isa confirmed that all allegations and speculations have been true. Uyghur Muslims indeed have been forced to eat pork, barred from fasting in the month of Ramadhaan and refused entrance into mosques. These policies were implemented in 2015 and 2016 and have remained ever since, stated Isa.
In 2018, the Chinese Communist Party confiscated all Qurans and religious books possessed by the Uyghur population. Thus the complete erasure of Islam was cemented firmly into place.
The Uyghurs are originally a Turkic people, with roots in Eastern Europe and Asia. Invasion and hence occupation of their original territories by China resulted in a merge with the mainland, thus Uyghurs are currently classified as Chinese.
Isa verified that approximately over two million Uyghur Muslims reside in concentration camps, which the CCP has termed “training centres” following international probes and potential investigations. In November 2018, the United Nations requested that China shut down these camps, and although resolutions have been passed, the camps continue to operate said Isa.
Even the minutest aspects of daily life are controlled and monitored by the Chinese government, explained Isa. Laws have been passed against headscarves and beards.
Mohammed bin Salman advocates for the confinement of the Uyghur population, contending that China is not suppressing Islam, but rather extremism and terrorism. Isa concluded stating that the position of the Saudi Crown Prince is not only an insult to the Uyghurs, but to Islam.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has said that the Chinese are within their right to take “anti-terrorism” and “de-extremism” measures.
His view has been seen as a tacit approval of the Chinese human rights abuses.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said they looked forward to closer relations with Saudi Arabia and “prevent the infiltration and spread of extremist thinking”.
Bin Salman said, “China has the right to take anti-terrorism and de-extremism measures to safeguard national security”.
