Xinjiang camps defended at UN human rights forum

Xinjiang vice-governor Erkin Tuniyaz told the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday that state-run detention camps in the far western region of China were vocational centres that had helped to “save” people from extremist influences.

He was responding to international criticism in an address which, diplomats said, was an effort to head off any censure at the three-week session, which began on Monday.

UN experts and activists say that at least one million ethnic Uygurs and other Muslims are held in the detention centres in Xinjiang. China describes the facilities as training centres helping to stamp out extremism and give people new skills.

Tuniyaz, who is Uygur, told the Council China had now effectively contained terrorism and religious extremism in Xinjiang.

“By setting up vocational education and training centres in accordance with the law, we aim to educate and save those who were influenced by religious extremism and committed minor legal offences,” he said.

“This will prevent them from becoming victims of terrorism and extremism and to protect the basic human rights of the citizens from infringement.”