Rally for Uyghurs brings moderates, hardliners to China Embassy
The China Embassy in Kuala Lumpur served as an unexpected meeting point for two Muslim NGO factions, who were both rallying in solidarity of Uyghurs in Xinjiang province this afternoon.
The China Embassy in Kuala Lumpur served as an unexpected meeting point for two Muslim NGO factions, both of whom were rallying in solidarity of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang province this afternoon.
At first, some 30 people from moderate NGOs, including Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) and the National Muslim Students Association (PKPIM), had gathered at the Ibnu Mas'ud Mosque for Friday prayers.
They then made their way under the scorching weather to gather next to the Hock Choon Supermarket which is near the Chinese embassy.
The group shouted chants such as "We are Uyghurs" and "Hidup Uyghur" while waving placards and banners.
One of them held a stuffed-panda toy and hibiscus as a symbol of peace.
But some 10 minutes later, this small group was joined — and quickly drowned out — by some 600 people from hardline Muslim group Hizbut Tahrir.
This group, who had gathered at the Tabung Haji mosque before marching to the embassy, came brandishing the black and white flags of their organisation.
The Hizbut Tahrir crowd shouted chants of a different nature, such as "Destroy the communists" and "Uphold the Caliphate".
At 2.45pm, Abim president Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz, together with secretary-general Muhammad Fazril Salleh and PKPIM president Ahmad Farhan Rosli approached the embassy gates to handover a memorandum.
They were accompanied by police who were present to monitor the situation.
However, no representatives from the embassy came out to accept the memorandum which was then left in the mailbox.
In a media statement later, embassy spokesperson Tang Tang said the issues regarding Xinjiang were China's internal affairs.
"These are not human rights, ethnicity or religion issues, but issues of anti-terrorism, anti-separationism and de-radicalisation.
"The Chinese government safeguards the freedom of religious belief of all citizens according to the law, including the Uyghur minority," he added.
He also reiterated the view that news about Uyghurs on social media was fake news and Malaysians were free to visit Xinjiang to see the situation for themselves.
Over one million Uyghurs in Xinjiang have reportedly been forced into "re-education camps" by Beijing. But China claims it's re-education of Uyghurs is to curb extremism.
So far, China state media has released two documentaries detailing alleged terrorism in Xinjiang.
