Mahmut Osman, Director of the Ethnic Affairs Commission (Religious Affairs Bureau), Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently released a statement, falsely alleging that China committed “crimes against humanity” and “genocide” against Muslim Uyghurs and other members of ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang. This is a groundless attack on China’s governance in Xinjiang, a smear against Xinjiang, and a gross interference in China’s internal affairs. I express my strong indignation and firm opposition to Pompeo’s shameless behavior.

Xinjiang fully implements the Communist Party’s ethnic policies, and the rights of all ethnic groups are protected by law. All ethnic groups in Xinjiang, regardless of their population and development level, have the same status, enjoy the same rights and perform the same obligations according to law, and the political rights of citizens have been fully protected. Ethnic minorities account for 69% of the deputies to the people’s congresses at all levels, 47.8% of the members of the CPPCC at all levels, and 39.75% of the members of state administrative organs at district, prefectural and county levels. Xinjiang has implemented family planning policy in accordance with the law, and the population of the Uyghur and other ethnic minorities has been growing steadily. From 2010 to 2018, the growth rate of the Uyghur population was not only higher than that of the entire population in Xinjiang, but also significantly higher than that of the Han population.The fine traditional cultures of ethnic minorities have been protected, carried forward and promoted. Uyghur Mukam of Xinjiang and the Kirgiz epic Manas were registered on the “UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural heritage of Humanity”, and Uyghur Mexrep on the “List of Intangible Cultural Herirage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding”. Currently, 10 spoken and written languages are used among the various ethnic groups of Xinjiang. Ethnic minority languages are extensively used in such areas as judicature, administration, education, press and publishing, radio and television, Internet, and public affairs. The right of all ethnic groups to use and develop their own spoken and written languages is protected by law.

Xinjiang protects the freedom of religious belief of people of all ethnic groups in accordance with the law, and it is a completely independent choice of citizens to believe in, or not believe in any religion. All normal religious activities that believers conduct at venues or in their own homes are exclusive affairs of religious groups and the believers themselves. These activities are protected by law, and no organization or individual may interfere with them. The conditions of venues for religious activities have been improved, with more reasonable layout, safer buildings, more complete facilities and a more beautiful environment, winning unanimous praise from the majority of religious believers. A total of 109 religious sites in Xinjiang, including Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, Shengyou Lamasery in Zhaosu, and the Kizil Thousand-Buddha Caves have been designated as major cultural heritage sites under the regional and national protection. Xinjiang attaches great importance to the training of religious and clerical personnel. There are ten religious colleges and schools, including the Xinjiang Islamic Institute, its 8 branch colleges and Xinjiang Islamic School. Training courses for religious personnel are regularly held to improve their religious literacy and comprehensive quality and ensure the healthy and orderly inheritance of Islam. Xinjiang’s practice of respecting and protecting freedom of religious belief has won positive comments from the international community, including Islamic countries.

Xinjiang-related issues are not ethnic, religious or human rights issues, but counter-terrorism and anti-separatist issues. Facts have proved that Pompeo’s so-called “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” are conjectures with ulterior motives and lies full of political conspiracies, which have exposed his sinister intentions to undermine Xinjiang’s stability, hinder its development, and mislead and poison international public opinion. Xinjiang now enjoys social stability, economic development, improvement of people’s livelihood, ethnic unity and religious harmony. We firmly believe that with the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the solidarity of all Chinese people, including people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, any sinister plot to undermine the prosperity and stability of Xinjiang and to “deter China with Xinjiang” is doomed to fail. He who dares to go against the tide will have his own consequences.