BEIJING: China has eased some travel restrictions on Uyghurs but still imposes “severe controls” on those seeking to go abroad or visit family in Xinjiang, according to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released on Monday.
Beijing is accused of detaining over a million Uyghurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang—allegations it denies, insisting its policies curb extremism and promote economic growth.
Since the mid-2010s, authorities have detained Uyghurs with overseas ties and confiscated their passports. HRW says officials are now returning some passports and allowing travel applications, but with strict conditions.
Uyghurs must declare trip purposes, return by a set date, and pledge not to criticise China while abroad.
Family travel is rare, and returnees often face interrogation.
Uyghurs visiting China on foreign passports endure long visa waits, questioning, and restrictions on staying with relatives.
Some join government-organized tours that HRW claims present a sanitized view of Xinjiang.
The report, based on interviews with 23 Uyghurs abroad and Chinese government documents, alleges Xinjiang’s detention camps involve forced labor, political indoctrination, and abuse—charges Beijing dismisses, saying the centers were voluntary and have since closed.
The US calls China’s treatment of Uyghurs “genocide,” while the UN says “problematic” policies persist in Xinjiang two years after its report cited possible crimes against humanity. – AFP
