Chinese Communist Regime’s Policies for Uyghur Persecution Remain in Place: UN

Demonstrators supporting Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Hong Kongers take part in a protest against the Chinese Communist Party as they march along Regent Street towards the Chinese Embassy in London, England, on Oct. 1, 2021. Matt Dunham/AP Photo

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has not changed the policy it uses to justify its persecution of Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic and religious minorities in China, even after a large-scale United Nations investigation, according to an Aug. 27 U.N. update.

Two years ago, the U.N. Human Rights Office published a damning report concluding “serious human rights violations have been committed” by the CCP in the Xinjiang region, home to 25 million people of various ethnicities.

The office uncovered cases of physical and psychological torture, forced medical treatment, and sexual abuse. It concluded the CCP’s actions, which the regime claims are legal responses to terrorism and extremism, may constitute crimes against humanity, and warrant further investigation.

The CCP’s abuse of Uyghurs in Xinjiang was reported as early as 2016. The U.N. investigation came after international lawmakers petitioned the organization to look into alleged genocide at the 47th regular session of the U.N. Human Rights Council (OHCHR) in 2021.

In 2014 and 2018, the CCP passed so-called counterterrorism laws, which it claims are aimed at curbing extremism among Muslim Uyghurs through re-education.

The laws are broad, defining terrorist activity as vaguely as “disruption of social order” without providing concrete examples. They also prohibit what the CCP says are extremist ideas, thoughts, activities, clothing, and content, but, again, without offering specific examples.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in the Aug. 27 update that the office has had detailed exchanges with the CCP regarding the policies it uses to justify persecution in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong. In June, a team visited China to discuss the CCP’s terrorism and extremism policies.

“In particular, on Xinjiang, we understand that many problematic laws and policies remain in place,” Shamdasani said. “Allegations of human rights violations, including torture, need to be fully investigated.”

The U.N. urged the CCP to revise its policies in line with international human rights principles and stated it would continue to seek active engagement. The office indicated it would continue to petition for the release of wrongfully detained individuals and continue to investigate.

“We are also continuing to follow closely the current human rights situation in China, despite the difficulties posed by limited access to information and the fear of reprisals against individuals who engage with the United Nations,” the statement reads.

Maya Wang, associate China director at Human Rights Watch, called for follow-up investigations and for Beijing to implement policy changes proposed by the U.N.

“Beijing’s brazen refusal to meaningfully address well-documented crimes in Xinjiang is no surprise, but shows the need for a robust follow-up by the UN human rights chief and UN member states,” Wang said. “Contrary to the Chinese government’s claims, its punitive campaign against millions of Uyghurs in Xinjiang continues to inflict great pain.”

The International Service for Human Rights similarly urged Beijing “to adopt a roadmap with a clear timeline for the implementation of recommendations,” and for U.N. bodies to further investigate.

The CCP has been dismissive of accusations of persecution, generally issuing evasive or blame-shifting statements describing the accusations as slander or a smear.

In a recent report from Yale University, researchers estimated that Uyghurs imprisoned by the CCP face a total of 4.4 million cumulative years of incarceration.