Uyghurs Labeled "Extremists" Over Possession of the Quran
Chinese authorities are reportedly monitoring the phones of Uyghur ethnic minority members in China's Xinjiang region for the presence of approximately 50,000 multimedia files deemed as extremist content.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) conducted a forensic investigation, revealing that this content includes material from various sources, not only violent groups like ISIS but also organizations advocating Uyghur identity and self-determination.
These files also cover non-political content such as Islamic teachings and cultural materials. HRW criticizes China for equating Islam with extremism and using this as justification for oppressive actions against Uyghur Muslims.
The leaked information comes from a Xinjiang police database and highlights how many Uyghurs are flagged for practicing their religion rather than promoting violence.
HRW's analysis of flagged content showed that a significant portion was related to ordinary religious materials, while a smaller percentage contained actual violent content.
China's extensive surveillance and re-education efforts targeting Uyghurs have led to international condemnation, with rights groups estimating over a million people detained in re-education camps.
China has defended these actions as counter-terrorism measures and poverty alleviation strategies.