By Shokrat Zakir, Governor of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

  Recently, the vocational education and training centers in Xinjiang have became a focus of international opinion, wining recognition from people with visions, but at the same time, arousing slanders from the Western world. Some media have made comments on Xinjiang and China based on groundless accusations, false and fabricated facts with obvious ideological bias. A couple of politicians from certain countries, as always, have used willful political tricks to viciously hype up the deradicalization work done by Xinjiang authorities and smear China with unspeakable purposes in minds.Paying no attention to the arduous works Xinjiang has made in its anti-terrorism and deradicalization efforts and great responsibility it has shouldered in saving some social communities who have fallen deeply into the tramps of extremism, these media and politicians have attacked arbitrarily the programs carried out by Xinjiang authorities in vocational education and training centers.These acts are nothing but brutal interference of internal affairs of China, violation of China’s sovereignty, exposing obviously their evil intentions in containing China’s development and even further, stirring up attempts in separation China and creating chaos. And we stand firmly against all of these. The purposes Xinjiang has established the vocational education and training centers in accordance with the law is to eliminate the terrorism and extremism from their roots, and worthwhile results have achieved and proven that the measurement is to safeguard the fundamental interests of the maximum majorities of people, a total act of respecting and protecting of human rights. Taking the vocational education and training centers as excuse, these people and countries have indeed applied double standards on the issue of counter-terrorism and deradicalization. Wantonly tarnishing Xinjiang in the end is offering shield and tolerance to terrorism and extremism, and serious contradiction to international morality and human consciousness. People with kindness and justice in hearts will hold in contempt upon these shameless deeds, so as the people of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang, we will never accept these accusation.

  I. The implementation of the vocational education and training is a righteous action to fight terrorism and extremism.

  Since the 1990s, Xinjiang had suffered thousands of violent terrorist attacks, which caused the death of a large number of inncoent people and hundreds of police officers as well as immeasurable property damage. The reason is extremism that often uses religion as a cover to spread false doctrines to befog the people’s minds, deny all secular concepts and modern civilization, and spare no efforts to preach the fallacy that jihad and martyrdom help one go directly to heaven. Extremists uses violent terrorist means to kill innocent people, and vainly attempts to split the country and establish an extremist regime under the guise of religion. Bloody facts have proved that extremist thoughts are spiritual opium that pushes its blind and ignorant followers and coercers deep into the abyss, and a downright ideology that is anti-human, anti-civilization and anti-society. It is hard to stop violent terrorist activities until extremism is eliminated.

  Facing a grave and complex situation, Xinjiang has given equal importance to fighting violent terrorist crimes and preventing terrorism through education. Based on realities and laws, the region has put emphasis on both strictly countering violent terrorist crimes and addressing the root cause of terrorism, and established vocational education and training centers for deradicalization in accordance with law. In the past three years, no violent terrorist attacks have occurred in Xinjiang, which has ensured overall social stability and harmony and protected the basic human rights of the citizens from the harm of terrorism and extremism. Meanwhile, the region continues to enjoy the dividends of effective counterterrorism measures with its economy steadily growing, people’s livelihood improving, and overall progress being made in all respects. Today, the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are feeling a much stronger sense of fulfillment, happiness and security, and are full of confidence for building a beutiful Xinjiang and jointly realizing the dream of the motherland. Our practices have testified to that etablishment of vocational education and training centers according to law and phased training on laws, technical skills and the country’s common language for a small number of people who were influence by extremism are effective measures for countering and preventing terrorism and extremism, as well as a practical, innovative and righteous action for safeguarding the country and people’s fundamental interests.

  Ⅱ. The law-based education and training is an effective measure to advance governance in Xinjiang.

  China is country under the rule of law. Rule of law is the foundation of great importance that sustains national governing system and the governing capacity. In line with the spirit of rule of law in China and the principles of counter-terrorism and deradicalization as practiced by the international community, China's counter-terrorism legal system and the laws and regulations promulgated by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region constitute the legal basis for Xinjiang to establish education and training centers. In accordance with the Article 4 of the Counter-terrorism Law of the People's Republic of China and Article 17 of the Regulation of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Deradicalization and other laws and regulation, vocational education and training centers have been established in Xinjiang to help educate and save people who, infected with and coerced by extremism, committed offences that were not serious enough to constitute a crime. Such a practice is rightly a integrated solution that addresses symptoms and root causes and demonstrates the principle of combining punishment with leniency, with prominence given to rehabilitation and redemption. It is the inevitable choice to follow in law-based governing of Xinjiang and counter-terrorism and deradicalization.

  The vocational education and training aims to eliminate the sources of terrorism and religious extremism. People who have visited the centers are all aware that the centers are open institutions that help trainees break free from ideas of extremism and acquire cultural and legal knowledge and vocational skills. The centers employ qualified teachers, competent educators, experienced legal practitioners, and senior vocational tecnicians to teach the national common language, laws, hands-on skills and deradicalization courses to the trainees who were infected with varying degrees of religious extremism and had very poor command of the country's common language, limited sense and knowledge of the law, and limited vocational skills.

  All those centers strictly complemented the basic principle, enshrined in the Constitution of China and laws, to respect and protect the basic rights of trainees. The center guarantee that trainee’s personal dignity in inviolable and prevent any insult or abuse in any manner.All lawful rights,personal freedom and customs of all ethnic groups are fully protected.The centers employ a residential education model. The centers respect the trainee’s freedom of religious belief, they could decide on their own whether to do so on a legal basis when they get home. A number of foreign journalists who have visited education and training centers in Xinjiang have reported the trut situation what they have seen. For example,Turkey's DHA says in a report: " The centers provide human-based management and services for the trainees. There is no maltreatment or restrictions on personal freedom. The trainees are happy to study and live there."

  The vocational education and training centers are equipped with complete facilities, with all dormitories fitted with radio, TV and aircon, and clinic providing diagnostic and treatment services. Venues available in all the centers include those for sports activities like basketball, volleyball and Ping-Pong; and recreational activities such as reading room, computer room and screening room, as well as function hall and open-air stage for cultural shows and performances. Ethnic songs and dance and sports meetings are held regularly to satisfy the needs of the trainees in study, life and culture. "The actual state of the trainees I've seen in the center is completely different form what's been reported in western media,"said Abdulla Aziz, a journalist of Pajhwok of Afghanistan, who visited a vocational education and training center. "These reports said trainees are locked up and under compulsion. While what I witnessed is the trainees are very happy, and are learning various courses at the school. If they are ill, there will be teachers arrange for them to see the doctor; and there are venues for all kinds of sports."

  Meanwhile, to relieve the trainees of family worries, governments at all levels in Xinjiang extend much care to the trainees' families, helping their family members and relatives address problems in work, life ,employment, education and medical treatment. "I was legally blind before. As being influenced by religious extremism, I forced my middle school graduated daughter to drop out. In her strong resistance, she washed down a whole box of sleeping pills and was rushed to hospital for rescue. Since then, she has talked minimally to me," said Tanur Zunon, a graduated trainee of Kashgar. Through her time on the education and training program, grassroots organizations not only helped her daughter find a job but also clear the misunderstanding and estrangement between her and her daughter. After completing her education and training, she mind has changed considerably, which is also noticed by her daughter. "Mom, i hated you before. But now the hate is gone. What we should detest is nothing but religious extremism which spoiled our family," her daughter said to her one time.

  III. The vocational education and training work is to defend and protect the immediate interests of people of all ethnic groups.

  Vocational education and training in Xinjiang has succeeded to an enormous extent in eliminateing the soil and conditions in which terrorism and religious extremism breed, rehabilitating those who have committed unlawful or criminal acts, and protected basic civil rights. The number of people participating in education and training at the centers are not fixed; some are coming in while others are going out. Thanks to education and training, the trainees' overall quality has improved and their legal awareness considerably strengthened; they can use the national common language well, and, equipped with practical skills, their employbility has enhanced. Many of the trainees who have completed their studies in education and training centers have gone on to find employment in factories or enterprises. Some have started their own businesses , and some have continued their studies in secondary and higher vocational schools in order to improve their studies. Satar Zunon, a graduated trainee of Turpan, often called on people to oppose "pagans" and had been bent on "dying for Islam to go to heaven," after he was heavily infected with religious extremism through listening to or watching terrorism and extremism audios and videos. Through learning and training at the center, he has got rid of religious extremism and rekindled his confidence in life. After completing the training, he makes use of the cooking skills he learned at the center and to have opened a small restaurant with his wife. The restaurant makes about 500 yuan everyday and can generate about 100,000 yuan a year.

  At present, public security in Xinjiang has notably improved. Religious extremism infiltration has been effectively contained, while people enjoy ethnic equality and are living in unity, and the religions are in harmony. The social atmosphere has taken a marked turn for the better. The trend in society is now to pursue knowledge of modern science and technology and a cultured way of life. People of all ethnic groups are supportive of these efforts, and the personal feeling of many people is that the positive development in Xinjiang has been hard won, and without education and training there would have been little peace and tranquility today.

  Since the end of 2018, nearly 1,000 people, from over 90 countries and in 71 groups, have visited Xinjiang. They include foreign diplomatic envoys to China, UN officials, Geneva-based senior diplomats of various countries, news media, and religious organizations. They all expressed that what they saw in Xinjiang differed totally from what had been stated or reported by some western politicians and media said. They have all recognized that Xinjiang's practice in counterterrorism and deradicalization is totally in line with UN's purpose and principles on combating terrorism and safeguarding the fundamental human rights, which deserves recognition and is of reference value. A number of foreign journalists who have conducted interviews in the education and training centers have published stories that reflect the true role of the centers. A report carried by Egypt's Al-Ahram Al-Masa'y newspaper stated: "Xinjiang has set up education and training centers to train young people influenced by the extremism ideas of terrorist organizations, to provide them with the opportunity to reintegrate into society, get back on track, and steer clear of the claws of terrorism."

  Facts speak louder, and justice is in people's hearts. Xinjiang's achievements in counterterrorism, deradicalization and social governance has been obvious to the people all over the world. We strongly urge some western politicians and media to discard their ideological prejudice and double standards in counterterrorism and deradicalization, and do not make issues of education and training centers any more.