Friday, June 25, 2021
Report Says Islamic World ‘Actively Collaborating’ With China’s Global Campaign Against Uyghurs
By Reid StandishIn 1997, the government of Pakistan deported 14 Uyghurs accused by Beijing of being terrorists plotting to split Xinjiang, China’s heavily Muslim western province, away from the rest of the country. Upon being driven across Pakistan’s eastern border with China, they were summarily executed. That case represents the first documented episode of Uyghurs being extradited at China’s request, “marking a watershed in the evolution of Chinese transnational repression,” according to the China’s Transnational Repression of Uyghurs Dataset, a new database and report that was launched on June 24. It examines 1,546 cases of detention and deportation across 28 countries, from the 1997 incident until March 2021. The data set, which is a joint initiative by the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs and the Uyghur Human Rights Project, shows how China’s campaign against the Uyghurs has gone global, rapidly expanding from Central and South Asia to include Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The report, which claims to be the most complete account of China’s international campaign, documents how governments — predominantly from Muslim-majority countries across the Middle East and Asia — have cooperated with Beijing to surveil, detain, and repatriate Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities from China who have fled Xinjiang. “There has been a lot of criticism against Muslim majority countries for their silence on Xinjiang and the repression of the Uyghurs,” Bradley Jardine, the director of research at the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs and the report’s lead author, told RFE/RL. “But this database shows that it isn’t just hypocrisy from the Islamic world, it’s active collaboration with China.” United Nations human rights officials estimate that 1 million or more Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Muslim minorities are detained at camps in a vast Chinese internment system. Many former detainees allege they were subjected to attempted indoctrination, physical abuse, and even sterilization. The United States government and several Western parliaments have labeled China’s actions in Xinjiang as genocide, but most governments of majority Muslim states — who increasingly have close financial and political ties to Beijing through China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — have remained silent on the issue.According to the report, efforts to target Uyghurs and force them back to China have intensified since 2017, when Beijing is believed to have begun its mass internment program in Xinjiang. “Through these practices, the government of China is able to extend its repression and control over the Uyghur people across sovereign boundaries,” the report says. A Domestic Campaign Goes Global China’s government initially denied the Xinjiang camps’ existence, but has since been on a diplomatic and public-relations campaign to counter the growing outcry against what Beijing has termed “vocational-education centers” by defending them as necessary to combat Islamic extremism. Concerns over terrorism have been at the heart of official Chinese reasoning for targeting Uyghurs abroad that employs an evolving array of tactics, the report notes, from espionage and cyberattacks to issuing Red Notices via Interpol, an organization designed to coordinate global policing activities. While Chinese authorities have long viewed the Uyghur community with suspicion, and radical Uyghur separatist groups have carried out attacks, the report argues that the 2009 ethnic riots in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, were a turning point for Beijing. The riots claimed 200 lives, most of them ethnic Hans, and attacks by extremist Uyghur groups escalated the security situation in Xinjiang in the following years. The unrest led to swift retaliation by Beijing in the name of fighting extremism, and according to Jardine, who is also a fellow at the Wilson Center’s Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, this led to large outflows of Uyghurs from China who sought asylum and refugee status in countries around the world. “This forced China to have a more global outlook, whereas before it was regionally focused on neighboring areas like Central Asia and Pakistan,” he said. The data set highlights three phases in China’s evolving efforts against Uyghurs abroad. The first phase was predominantly focused on neighboring areas with Uyghur diasporas in Central and South Asia, with 89 Uyghurs detained or sent to China from 1997 to 2007. The second phase, from 2008 to 2013, expanded to 15 countries and targeted 130 individuals. The third phase, from 2014 to March, saw a major escalation, with 1,327 people detained or extradited from 20 countries. The data highlight a focus on Muslim-majority countries, with 647 of the cases in the report taking place in the Middle East and North Africa and 665 cases occurring in South Asia. Eleven hundred and fifty-one of the cases recorded involved Uyghurs being detained in their host country, while 395 were deportations or extraditions back to China. “These numbers are just a drop in the bucket,” Jardine said. “We are limited to people that have come forward, but there are far more unreported cases that we just don’t know about.” A Spotlight On The Muslim World Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan recently made headlines when he declined to acknowledge or condemn the Chinese government’s alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang during a June 20 interview with the U.S. news outlet Axios. Islamabad and Beijing maintain strong ties, and the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) remains a flagship project within China’s BRI.But the database highlights how Pakistan’s cooperation with China on Uyghurs is decades old and predates Beijing’s increased investment and economic push across Eurasia.“While there is no evidence of an official agreement to monitor Uyghur activities, Pakistan’s activities in the late 1990s hint that an agreement had likely been reached, formally or otherwise,” the report says.Similarly, lawyers for Uyghur groups have submitted new evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s Office of the Prosecutor showing the government in Tajikistan has been cooperating with Beijing to send Uyghurs back to China. Their complaint also accuses Tajik authorities of helping to facilitate the extraordinary rendition of Uyghurs from Turkey back to China. Turkey remains a crucial location for the broader Uyghur community. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has welcomed Uyghurs to Turkey for many years, with an estimated 40,000 Uyghurs living in that country of around 82 million. Erdogan has been critical of China’s heavy-handed policies in Xinjiang, but more recently has tempered his remarks as Ankara has become closer economically with China. In December 2020, Beijing ratified a 2017 extradition treaty between the two countries. But the Turkish parliament has yet to follow suit, leaving Uyghurs fearful that the looming decision could see many of them sent back to China at Beijing’s request. “Turkey was once seen as a safe haven, but no more,” Jardine said. “The West now needs to start looking at expanding its refugee quotas and facilitating Uyghur claims from Turkey and other countries that are complicit in China’s transnational repression.”
https://www.eurasiareview.com/25062021-report-says-islamic-world-actively-collaborating-with-chinas-global-campaign-against-uyghurs/
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Blames Women for Sexual Violence
By Munir AhmedIt was the second time in two months that Khan sparked outrage after suggesting that women’s attire plays a role in provoking sexual violence against them. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is facing growing criticism at home after seemingly blaming a rise in sexual violence in Pakistan on women wearing “very few clothes.”His comments drew nationwide condemnation from human rights activists and the country’s opposition, which sought an apology. The controversial statements aired over the weekend came in an interview on Axios, a documentary news series on HBO. “If a woman is wearing very few clothes it will have an impact, it will have an impact on the men, unless they’re robots,” the prime minister said. “I mean it’s common sense.” Asked directly by interviewer Jonathan Swan whether the way that women dress could provoke acts of sexual violence, Khan said: “It depends on which society you live in. If in a society where people haven’t seen that sort of thing, it will have an impact on them.” It was the second time in two months that Khan sparked outrage after suggesting that women’s attire plays a role in provoking sexual violence against them. In April, in an online show on state-run Pakistan Television, Khan claimed that wearing a veil — the traditional head covering worn by conservative Muslim women — would protect women from sexual assault. Khan’s government has faced criticism over its failure to curb sexual attacks on women since he came into power by winning a simple majority in parliamentary elections in 2018. Pakistan has been rocked by high-profile sexual attacks, including last September when a woman was gang-raped in front of her children after her car broke down on a major freeway at night near Lahore.Sexual harassment and violence against women is not uncommon in Pakistan. Nearly 1,000 women are killed in Pakistan each year in so-called “honor killings” for allegedly violating conservative norms on love and marriage.The weekend interview with Khan in Islamabad covered a wide range of issues, but his comments seemingly linking how women dress to sexual violence garnered by far the most attention. The former cricket star drew broad criticism on social media from both civil rights groups and everyday Pakistanis. “Shame on You,” a Pakistani woman, Frieha Altaf, said on Twitter. Marriyum Aurrangzeb, spokeswoman for the opposition Pakistan Muslim League party, condemned Khan on Twitter for his remarks. “The world got an insight into a mindset of a sick, misogynistic, degenerate & derelict IK (Imran Khan). It’s not women’s choices that lead to sexual assault rather the choices of men who choose to engage in this despicable and vile CRIME,” she said. However, female lawmakers from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party defended the prime minister, saying his comments were taken out of context, without elaborating. Minister for Climate Change Sartaj Gul said at a news conference Tuesday “our culture and our way of dressing is idealized across the world,” referring to conservative norms of dressing in Pakistan.
Pakistan remains on FATF’s grey list
However, FATF noted that Pakistan had completed all but one of the 27 items in the action plan drawn up for the country to tackle money laundering and terror financing when it was placed in the list of nations under increased monitoring or the grey list in 2018
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistan-remains-on-fatf-s-grey-list-101624624315404.html
PPP is the only party which can protect Azad Kashmir and Occupied Kashmir – says Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during a rally in Azad Kashmir
Chairman PPP said that the behaviour and policy of federal and Kashmir governments with the people is derogating. We feel your pain because you are the comrades of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed |Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and I cannot leave you at the mercy of these callous governments. Now I am among you all, and once again you have to support the PPP like you did with the Quaid-e-Awam and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. If you want for the problems facing Kashmir to be solved, then you have to support the PPP. In occupied Kashmir people are fighting against Modi’s policies and here in Azad Kashmir people are fighting poverty, inflation and unemployment in Imran Khan’s government. You are suffering because of the failed and incompetent government of Imran Khan. The people of Kashmir always prospered during the PPP governments. The PPP is the only party to get you out of these sufferings. We should form a government of PPP which can not only stand up to Modi’s government but also save you from this PTIMF government.
He asked the workers to campaign door to door and deliver the message of PPP. He resolved that the next prime minister of Azad Kashmir will be from PPP. He asked to the people to elect PPP candidate, Afsar Shahid with a huge margin.
At Palak Chaksawari in Mirpur Azad Kashmir, addressing a huge crowd Chairman Bilawal said that he is always happy to visit Kashmir because the relations between the PPP and the people of Kashmir go back three generations. Our relation is not only political but historical, and it will continue for generations to come. When you supported Shaheed Bhutto, we wrote history together. When you supported Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, we also recorded a history. When you supported President Zardari, the PPP government carried out historic development. Now, we have started the journey of a new generation. The youth of both Azad and Occupied Kashmir are also starting a new journey. They are fighting against Modi’s government in Occupied Kashmir and against Imran Khan’s policy of unemployment, poverty and inflation in Azad Kashmir. They cannot send their children to schools, buy medicines for their elders and feed their children. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had said that we will fight for Kashmir for a thousand years if need be. There was a time when Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said that where Kashmiris shed sweat, we will shed blood. Now, Modi has done a historical injustice to Kashmiri people and Imran Khan’s response is “What can I do?”.
When Zulfikar Ali Bhutto used to give a call for strike in Azad Kashmir, the people of Occupied Kashmir used to observe it as well. Imran Khan tried to find a solution for Kashmir by changing the name of Kashmir Highway to Srinagar Highway. You have to respond to this failed and incompetent prime minister by your votes. You have to tell the world that regardless of what this puppet prime minister says, the Kashmiri people are standing with the people of Occupied Kashmir. You have to give a message to the entities who declared the person who gave you nuclear capability and missile technology, a security risk. This puppet has not only compromised on Kashmir, but also wants to compromise Pakistan’s nuclear capability. The Kashmiri people will declare this puppet prime minister a security risk by rejecting him in the elections. You will chase out PTI from Kashmir. After electing a prime minister in Kashmir, we will elect a PPP prime minister in Pakistan as well, who will not compromise on Kashmir and will also be able to solve your problems. There is only one party which can not only protect Azad Kashmir, but Occupied Kashmir as well. You have to elect PPP candidate with huge margin. The PPP will serve the people of Kashmir after getting elected on 25 July.
Addressing party workers at Dhana, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that late Matloob Inqilabi served the Kashmiri people tirelessly and kept the flag of Shaheed Zualfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed flying high. Now the son of the Matloob Inqilabi will continue his mission. Now the new generation is starting his struggle and now Matloob Inqilabi will start his struggle with me.
https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/25174/A
The PPP has always served the people of Kashmir and I have come here to ask your support and your vote. Now this new generation will solve the problem confronting Azad Kashmir and will also stand by with the Occupied Kashmir. Even a child knows that the PPP has given employment to the Kashmiri people. You have to support the PPP ask anybody whether a government servant or a teacher or a soldier, their salaries were increased during the PPP governments. We have to increase the salaries and pension and have to provide employment to ever household. The nuclear capability and missile technology is with us due to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. This cowered Imran Khan says that we have no need of nuclear capability. We will not allow this puppet to compromise on our nuclear capability. You have to vote for the PPP on 25th July and have to vote for Waleed Inqilabi and all other PPP candidates. The PPP the only party which has not shook hands with Modi. We don’t celebrate with such people and we do not share our sadness with them. We have always supported Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Mard-i-Hur President Zardari and now you will support me.
The PPP has always served the people of Kashmir and I have come here to ask your support and your vote. Now this new generation will solve the problem confronting Azad Kashmir and will also stand by with the Occupied Kashmir. Even a child knows that the PPP has given employment to the Kashmiri people. You have to support the PPP ask anybody whether a government servant or a teacher or a soldier, their salaries were increased during the PPP governments. We have to increase the salaries and pension and have to provide employment to ever household. The nuclear capability and missile technology is with us due to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. This cowered Imran Khan says that we have no need of nuclear capability. We will not allow this puppet to compromise on our nuclear capability. You have to vote for the PPP on 25th July and have to vote for Waleed Inqilabi and all other PPP candidates. The PPP the only party which has not shook hands with Modi. We don’t celebrate with such people and we do not share our sadness with them. We have always supported Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Mard-i-Hur President Zardari and now you will support me.
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