Muslim NGOs protest China's treatment of Uyghurs

A group of 30 protesters lined up outside the China Embassy in Kuala Lumpur today urging Beijing to release Uyghurs detained in Xinjiang's 'political re-education' camps.

Holding a large banner and placards in the afternoon sun, protesters repeated chants of "Bebas Uyghur (Free Uyghurs)" and "Peduli Uyghur (Care about the Uyghurs)".

Three of the protesters then walked towards the embassy building to hand over a memorandum endorsed by 34 Muslim NGOs, but no officials appeared outside to receive it. 

"This is only our first gathering here. We will be back again," Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) president Mohamad Raimi Ab Rahim told reporters.

"We ask the Chinese government and the embassy here to not be arrogant. 

"Other governments, even those who are considered to be superpowers, at least receive the memorandums given to them."

Raimi (photo) said that the contents of the memorandum would be published as an open letter, and that more Muslims would be mobilised to stand up for the Uyghur minority in China. 

The memorandum calls for the immediate release of all Uyghurs detained in the camps, as well as for Beijing to respect the community's basic rights – including freedom of religion – and to put a stop to forced cultural assimilation.

Majlis Perundingan Islam Malaysia (Mapim) president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, meanwhile, vowed to mobilise all 57 Muslim countries to pile pressure on China.

"As Muslims, we will not just sit there and let this happen. Muslims will not keep quiet, we will rise up and send a warning to China.

"If you do not stop it, we will mobilise all the 57 Muslim countries. 

"You must stop the atrocities. If you want to have good relations with Muslim countries, you'd better behave," he stressed.

Azmi (photo) added that the groups will also urge Putrajaya not to compromise on the rights of the Uyghurs for the sake of economic benefit.

Abim secretary-general Muhammad Faizal Abdul Aziz also took aim at China's soft diplomacy, which he said involves inviting politicians on sponsored trips to Xinjiang to hide the truth on the detention camps.

Besides Abim and Mapim, the 34 NGOs that signed the memorandum include the Ikram Association (Ikram) and the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM).

Promoting separatism?

China embassy spokesperson Tang Tang later questioned whether the protesters were promoting separatism, as the logo of Islamic Republic of East Turkistan (IRET) was displayed at the rally.

"No country will tolerate terrorism and separatism. I believe that Malaysians also will not support any people who are involved in terrorism and separatist activities in China," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

"However, I saw that there is a banner with an East Turkistan logo that appeared in the so-called peaceful rally. I want to know if they are supporting the East Turkistan independence movement?"

"A peaceful rally is one thing, while blatant support for separatist activities is a totally different concept," he added.

Tang Tang also stressed that the 're-education' camps in Xinjiang have nothing to do with religion and race, but are part of Beijing's measures to curtail terrorist and separatist activity.

The spokesperson also urged Malaysians not to be misled by "fake news" released by Western news sources, and welcomed anyone to "explore the true, beautiful, stable and prosperous Xinjiang" to see how Muslims in China live.