China dismisses UN report on Uyghur rights abuses

Treatment of group 'may amount to crimes against humanity'

- ALISHA RAHAMAN SARKAR

China has rejected accusations by the United Nations of serious human rights violations that may amount to "crimes against humanity” in a report examining a crackdown on Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups.

Human rights groups have accused Beijing of sweeping a million or more people from minority groups into detention camps where many have said they were tortured, sexually assaulted, and forced to abandon their language and religion.

A 48-page UN human rights report concluded that China has committed “serious” violations under its anti-extremism policies in the far western province of Xinjiang and sought “urgent attention” from the world community.

But China’s diplomatic mission in Geneva said it firmly opposed the release of the UN assessment, which it said ignores human rights achievements made in Xinjiang and the damage caused by terrorism and extremism to the population.

“Based on the disinformation and lies fabricated by anti-China forces and out of the presumption of guilt, the so-called ‘assessment’ distorts China’s laws, wantonly smears and slanders China, and interferes in China’s internal affairs,” the protest read.

“People of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are living a happy life in peace and contentment. It is the greatest human rights protection and the best human rights practice.”

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian called the report a “farce”.