By Yang Mingfang, Han Liqun from People’s Daily
The so-called “Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019” passed by the U.S. House of Representatives triggered huge indignation and condemnation from all walks of life in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
This act exposed the evil intention of the U.S. to undermine the social harmony and stability of Xinjiang, and hurt the feelings of all ethnic groups in the region, experts said, adding that any plot to set Xinjiang in chaos is doomed to fail.
By distorting the facts and distaining China, the U.S. is indeed containing the development of China under the disguise of religion and human rights protection, said Mehmet Abduwal, deputy director and associate research fellow of the history research department of Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences.
Such scheme planning to destruct the ethnic relations in China and undermine the social prosperity and stability in Xinjiang will never succeed, the deputy director noted. He believes that no slandering can stop the steps of the people in Xinjiang toward unity and progress; no rumor is able to cover the fact that Xinjiang is seeing improved human rights protection; and no plot is able to disturb Xinjiang’s efforts for development and prosperity.
Abudulrekep Tumniaz, President of Xinjiang Islamic Institute introduced that Xinjiang has over 24,000 mosques, 29,000 Islamic religious officials, and 103 Islamic associations at autonomous region, prefecture and county levels. The freedom of religious belief is comprehensively enjoyed, and reasonable religious demands are effectively satisfied as well, he added.
The so-called “Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019” is indeed offering support for terrorism and holding a candle to the devil, Tumniaz remarked, saying that the arbitrary act of the U.S. will only end up hurting itself and the others.
“Between 1990 and the end of 2016, separatists, religious extremists and terrorists plotted and carried out several thousand acts of terrorism in Xinjiang, which have been detrimental to the life and property of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang and have trampled on people’s dignity,” said Li Juan, director of the legislative affairs commission of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Under the banner of human rights protection, some U.S. politicians are practicing double standard on countering terrorism, which is connivance and even encouragement for terrorist acts, Li said, adding that Xinjiang-related issues are not about human rights, ethnicity or religion, but about fighting violence, terrorism and separatism.
Xinjiang has always promoted the rule of law, and conducted counterterrorism and de-radicalization in accordance with the law. Thanks to these measures, no terrorist incidents have occurred in Xinjiang for nearly three years, so the rights to life and development of the people of all ethnic groups are protected, and their sense of gain, happiness and security are improved.
Memet Abliz is a merchant who has been running his business at Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar for 17 years. “I witnessed how the bazaar turned from a farm produce fair into a mall and then into a site of attraction. Huge changes happened,” the merchant said.
“However, there were no people or business here when the bazaar was threatened by severe terrorism. Thanks to the harmony and stability nowadays, this place is once again crowded, and is even visited by foreigners. Our revenue goes higher day by day,” Abliz said.
Memet Juma, the imam, or the person who leads prayers at the Id Kah Mosque in Xinjiang’s Kashgar told People’s Daily that serial terrorist attacks in Kashgar once hurt many innocent people, and his father was killed by religious extremists.
“As a clerical worker, I know clearly that religious extremism has nothing to do with religion. We must have a clear understanding of the evil essence and severe harm of terrorism and religious extremism,” Juma said.
“The educational and training centers established in Xinjiang, where residential vocational training is offered, are in line with the spirit and requirements of the rule of law in China, and also reflects the ideas and principles of counter-terrorism and de-radicalization as practiced by the international community,” remarked Zuliati Ismail, dean of the School of Marxism of Xinjiang University.
She said that these centers instruct the trainees to recognize their mistakes, and de-radicalization is reflected in every aspect.
“Most of the trainees have acquired practical skills and improved their competence in job hunting. After graduation, some of them work for enterprises while some start their own business, and some even resume education in medium and higher vocational schools. There’s no doubt that the educational and training centers in Xinjiang are successful,” She remarked.
“Everyone at the center was happy, and was willing to take part in study and recreational activities,” said Tunisa Met, who once received education at an educational and training center in Hotan, a major oasis town in southwestern Xinjiang.
“I studied hairdressing at the center, and applied for a subsidy for women entrepreneurs in February after graduation. Now I can make 6,000 yuan each month running my own barbershop,” She introduced.
“I want to say that we women should live our lives and not be fooled by religious extremism, as happiness is created by our own hands,” She said.
