“Like we were enemies in a war”

China’s Mass Internment, Torture and Persecution of Muslims in Xinjiang

“Like we were enemies in a war” China’s Mass Internment, Torture and Persecution of Muslims in Xinjiang

Illustrations by Molly Crabapple

 

To the International Community as a Whole

  • Use all bilateral, multilateral, and regional platforms at your disposal, including those mandated by the UN, to urge the Chinese authorities to immediately end any crimes under international law and other human rights violations, to allow independent human rights investigators unrestricted access to Xinjiang, and to dismantle the system of discrimination and persecution of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

  • Allow all persons fleeing violence and persecution in Xinjiang to enter your country without delay or restrictions, and ensure they have prompt access to a fair and effective asylum process if desired, to legal counsel, to a thorough assessment of the risks of human rights violations they might face upon return, and to the ability to challenge any removal orders.

  • Strictly observe and apply the principle of non-refoulement to all persons, including refugees and asylum seekers, from Xinjiang. Cease all forced transfers, directly or indirectly, to China and guarantee that no one will be forced back to a situation where they face a real risk of serious human rights violations, including torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, the flagrant denial of fair trial rights, systematic discrimination, or persecution.