China’s statement at the UN opposing Islamophobia triggered strong criticism from Uyghur activists, who accused Beijing of hypocrisy and ongoing repression of Muslim communities
-1773821577015_d.png "Uyghur leaders slam China’s United Nations message on Islamophobia as ‘hypocritical’")
Rushan Abbas, Chairwoman of the Executive Committee of the World Uyghur Congress. Pic/World Uyghur Congress
A sharp exchange unfolded on social media platform X after the Chinese Mission to the United Nations shared a message marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
In its post, the mission stressed the need to oppose all forms of Islamophobia and called for greater dialogue among civilisations. It also highlighted the importance of respecting religious and cultural diversity and said that China would continue working closely with Islamic countries.
However, the message quickly drew strong criticism from Uyghur activists and leaders, who questioned China’s claims.
Uyghur activists call statement ‘hypocritical’
Rushan Abbas, Chairwoman of the Executive Committee of the World Uyghur Congress, strongly criticised the post. She described it as “breathtaking” in its audacity and accused the Chinese government of targeting Islamic practices.
According to Abbas, thousands of mosques have been destroyed and religious practices have been restricted. She also alleged that children are banned from entering places of worship and that millions of Uyghur Muslims have been detained in facilities that China calls “vocational training” centres.
She argued that these actions contradict China’s message about respecting religion and culture.
Personal stories highlight impact
Abbas also spoke about the personal impact of these policies. She highlighted the continued detention of her sister, Gulshan Abbas, who she said has been held for more than seven and a half years.
“My sister has been in a CCP prison for over 7.5 years for the crime of being related to me,” she said, questioning China’s claims of protecting religious identity.
She added that the situation shows China is not fighting Islamophobia, but instead carrying out what she called “the world’s most aggressive state-sponsored campaign against Islamic life.”
More criticism from Uyghur leadership
Salih Hudayar of the East Turkistan Government in Exile also criticised China’s statement. He described it as deeply hypocritical and misleading.
Hudayar said the message appears to be an attempt to influence Muslim-majority countries and the international community while diverting attention from serious allegations. These include claims of genocide, crimes against humanity, and continued repression in the Uyghur region.
Ongoing debate over China’s policies
The exchange has added to the ongoing global debate over China’s policies towards Uyghur Muslims. While China presents itself as supportive of religious harmony, critics argue that its actions tell a very different story.
The strong reactions to the UN post highlight the growing tensions between official messaging and the concerns raised by activists and international observers.
(With ANI Inputs)
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