The 74th Press Conference on Xinjiang -related Issues by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region-TIANSHANNET-天山网

The 74th Press Conference on Xinjiang -related Issues by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

(May 24, 2022, Urumqi )

Photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows the 74th Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Urumqi. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Xu Guixiang:Good afternoon, fellow media reporters!

Welcome to the press conference on Xinjiang related issues by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. I’m Xu Guixiang, the spokesman of the People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

First of all, please allow me to introduce attendees for this press conference.They are Elijan Anayat, spokesman of the People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Li Juan, director of Legislative Affairs Commission of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Yalkun Yaqup, deputy director of Public Security Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Yuan Qin, deputy director of Urumqi Municipal Intermediate People’s Court, and Yusanjan Asan, deputy director of Case Management Office of Urumqi Municipal People’s Procuratorate.

Over a past period of time, under the combined influences of ethnic separatism, religious extremism and violent terrorism, Xinjiang had suffered frequent incidents of terrorist attacks, causing great harm to the safety of life and property of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. From 1990 to 2016 in particular, separatists, extremists and violent terrorists plotted and carried out thousands of violent terrorist attacks in Xinjiang, claiming countless lives and causing innumerable property losses. Facing the grave and complex circumstances and the pressing counter-terrorism calls of the people to protect their lives and properties, Xinjiang actively responded to a series of counter-terrorism decisions including the UN Global Counter-terrorism Strategy. Based on the global counter-terrorism experiences learned from the international community, Xinjiang has upheld the principle of addressing both the symptoms and root causes in its fight against terrorism and extremism, by striking hard at serious terrorist crimes in accordance with the law and by focusing on tackling the root causes by adopting multiple means including improving livelihood, enhancing educating in law and strengthening assistance so that citizens’ basic human rights are secured at most to prevent them from being affected by terrorism and extremism. The government prioritizes safeguarding the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups. Starting by addressing deep-seated problems, China has worked hard to explore effective and law-based approaches to counter-terrorism and de-radicalization to protect people of all ethnic groups from the scourge of terrorism and extremism, and identified successful experiences and effective measures for the international community.

Today’s press conference is to focus on Xinjiang’s fight against terrorism and de-radicalization in accordance with the law.

Photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows Xu Guixiang, spokesman of People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region speaks and answers questions at the 74th Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues by XUAR in Urumqi. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Xu Guixiang:Terrorism and extremism have a long history in Xinjiang.From the early 20th century to the late 1940s, spreading “Pan-Turkism” and “Pan-Islamism”, separatist and religious extremist forces attempted to create a so-called theocratic state “East Turkistan” in Xinjiang. For years religious extremism continued to infiltrate into Xinjiang, resulting in incidents of terrorism. Since the 1990s in particular, to split China, the various kinds of “East Turkistan” forces spread religious extremism and carried out a series of violent terrorist incidents, thus bringing disasters to people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

Terrorism and extremism germinate in a complex domestic and international environment. They are rooted in political, economic and cultural factors, and are not specific to particular countries, regions, ethnic groups, religions or social systems.Xinjiang, especially the four prefectures in Southern Xinjiang, including Kashgar Prefecture, Hotan Prefecture, Aksu Prefecture and Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture where religious extremism had a long and widespread presence, suffered badly from frequent terrorist attacks. A large number of people were involved and even more were affected. The scale of the problem posed a serious challenge to China’s efforts in fighting terrorism and extremism.

Exploiting people’s religious beliefs under the pretext of ethnicity and religion, extremist forces spread religious extremism through the large population of religious people who had limited means of communication outside their own communities, limited employment opportunities in farming and animal husbandry, limited sources of information, and limited knowledge of modern science. Some people lost rationality as they failed to recognize the boundary between normal activities and limitation of law as well as normal religious activities and illegal religious activities. Consequently, they posed severe harm to social development, public security and citizens’ human rights. They are reflected mainly in the following aspects.

Firstly, extremist forces gave rise to terrorist attacks. Extremist forces incited followers to “engage in jihad and die for their belief in order to enter heaven”, spread religious extremism and instigated common people. No longer possessed of any self-control, some of them became extremists and terrorists who heartlessly slaughtered innocent people, violated law and became criminals. This is an important reason why terrorist incidents were so frequent in the past period of time.

Secondly, extremist forces enhanced spiritual control over religious people. Extremist forces denied and rejected all forms of secular culture, preaching a life without TV, radio and newspaper, forbidding people to weep at funerals or laugh at weddings, imposing bans on singing and dancing, and forcing women to wear heavily-veiled long black gowns. They distorted and fabricated the so-called “religious doctrines” and “domestic disciplines” and forced the religious masses to take them as code of behavior. They bewitched religious believers and some of them disdained to recognize their kinsmen.

Thirdly, extremist forces destroyed normal religious activities. Extremist forces spread the so-called “jihad and die for their belief in order to enter heaven” and slaughtered the so-called “infidels”and “apostates”. Consequently, the normal religious activities of the local area were severely sabotaged, moderate and righteous religious people were repelled, prosecuted, and even killed.

Fourthly, extremist forces disturbed the order of social management. Extremist forces told people not to obey anyone but Allah and incited them to resist government management. They abused those who did not follow the path of extremism as “infidels”, “apostates” and “scums”, urging their followers to verbally assault, reject, and isolate non-believers, the Communist Party members and officials, and patriotic religious individuals. They manipulated the “Halal” concept, stamping food, medicine, cosmetics, clothing, etc. with the Halal symbol. They incited people to overthrow secular governments and establish a theocratic state.

Fifthly, extremist forces denied modern science and civilization. Extremist forces incited the religious masses not to learn the standard spoken and written Chinese language and repel modern scientific knowledge. They spread words about a “next life where one’s fate is predestined”, and deceived religious believers into rejecting vocational skills training by which they could improve their economic conditions and their capacity for self-development. They disregarded the colorful and splendid traditional culture created jointly by people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang in an attempt to dissever the innate connection between the Chinese culture and the multi-ethnic culture in Xinjiang.

To sum up, I have introduced the major manifestations of religious extremism in Xinjiang during the past period of time from 5 aspects. The Regulations of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Religious Affairs has summarized the manifestations of religious extremism in 15 aspects, which has provided legal guidelines for related parties to carry out work in combating terrorism and de-radicalization.

Xu Guixiang: Now let’s watch a video about the real experiences of a couple who were affected by religious extremism and went abroad participating in illegal “hijrat”.(the video is omitted)

Xu Guixiang: Now let’s watch a video and get informed of the harm religious extremism has done to people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. (the video is omitted)

Xu Guixiang:You may know after watching the two videos that religious extremism is a malignant tumor that has prevented Xinjiang from making progress and brought severe harm to people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Now let’s give the floor to Elijan Anayat, spokesman of the People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for an introduction to related situations.

Photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows Elijan Anayat, spokesman of People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region speaks and answers questions at the 74th Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues by XUAR in Urumqi. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Elijan Anayat: Terrorism and extremism are malignant tumor in the society which has brought severe disaster to the rights and dignity of human beings and posed serious threat to world peace and tranquility. In the past period of time, affected by the combined influences of terrorist, ethnic separatist and religious extremist forces, terrorist attacks frequently took place. The terrorists slaughtered common people crazily, brutally killed religious clergies, severely damaged public security, openly attacked governmental institutions and intentionally created riots. The violent crimes committed by terrorists are bloody and heinous. These inhuman, anti-social and barbaric attacks have brought enormous sufferings to people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

Xu Guixiang: Extremist and terrorist forces have brought enormous disasters to Xinjiang. Some people are informed of it after attending Xinjiang’s exhibition of achievements in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization. CCTV has produced 4 documentaries in recent years. Today we invite you to watch another video to get further informed of the disasters violent terrorist incidents brought to people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.(the video is omitted)

Xu Guixiang: Facing the grave situation, Xinjiang has implemented counter-terrorism and de-radicalization work by integrating preventative measures and a forceful response in accordance with the law, thus effectively curbing the frequent terrorist incidents in the past period of time. Now let’s invite Yalkun Yaqup, deputy director of Public Security Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to introduce related situations to us.

Photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows Yalkun Yaqup, deputy director of Public Security Department of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region speaks at the 74th Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues by XUAR in Urumqi. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Yalkun Yaqup: Faced with the grave and complex counter-terrorist situations and urgent needs to fight against violent terrorism and protect people’s lives and properties, Xinjiang actively responded to a series of counter-terrorist decisions including the UN Global Counter-terrorism Strategy. Based on the global experiences in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, Xinjiang has taken resolute actions to fight terrorism and extremism in accordance with the law, effectively curbing the frequent occurrences of terrorist activities and ensuring, to the maximum extent, the rights to life, health and development of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

I. Strike at terrorism and extremism in accordance with the law.

In recent years, Xinjiang has earnestly implemented the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Criminal Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China, the National Security Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Counter-terrorism Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Regulations on Religious Affairs, and the Opinions on Certain Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases Involving Terrorism and Extremism jointly issued by the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Justice.In addition, Xinjiang has enacted local laws and regulations, including the Measures of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Implementing the Counter-terrorism Law of the People’s Republic of China, and the Regulations of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on De-radicalization. The local government strikes at all sorts of violent and terrorist activities that violate human rights, endanger public security, undermine national unity and split the country in accordance with the law.

In terms of specific work, first, violent terrorist attacks are investigated in time.The right to investigate is exercised in accordance with the law to solve violent terrorist cases in time and arrests suspects of violent terrorist crimes to demonstrate justice and deter crimes. Second, disposal of violent terrorist crimes in time is exercised. To minimize the loss of lives and properties, the public security organs set the police force and equipment scientifically to enhance emergency response capabilities to arrive at the scene in the shortest time and the shortest time to stop the crime in the event of violent terrorist cases. Third, the management of key areas and items is enhanced.Security personnel and facilities such as schools, hospitals, shopping malls, stations, docks, gas stations and other crowded places are guided to prevent violent terrorist attacks effectively. Explosives are taken good care of in accordance with the law and strict precautions were taken so that it won’t be applied to terrorist attacks. Four, popularization of law education is carried out. In law enforcement cases and patrol duty, knowledge of law is promoted to emphasize the concept of the rule of law, enhance their awareness of the rule of law and help the public effectively identify and resist illegal and criminal activities.

II. De-radicalization is carried out in accordance with the law.

When cracking down on violent and terrorist criminal activities, based on Article 17 of the Regulations of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on De-radicalization, Xinjiang has worked hard to educate and rehabilitate people guilty of minor crimes or law-breaking and eradicate the influence of terrorism and extremism through some regional and county vocational education and training centers.It has worked hard to prevent them from falling victim to terrorism and extremism and to nip terrorist activities in the bud.

The vocational education and training centers in Xinjiang are not the so-called “concentration camp”at all.The centers have been established by observing laws and regulations including the Counter-terrorism Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Measures of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Implementing the Counter-Terrorism Law and the Regulations of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on De-radicalization.The purpose of establishing the centers has been to educate and rehabilitate people guilty of minor crimes or law-breaking and eradicate the influence of terrorism and extremism and to nip terrorist activities in the bud. In terms of nature, the vocational education and training centers are basically schools that mainly teach the standard Chinese language, knowledge of law, vocational skills and de-radicalization. In terms of management mode, a residential education model is adopted, which allows trainees to go home on a regular basis, ask for leave to attend personal affairs and enjoy free correspondence. The centers guarantee that trainees’ personal dignity is inviolable and they enjoy the right of using their native language. Trainees decide on their own whether to attend religious activities on a legal basis when they get home. In terms of practical effects, through systematic training, trainees’ comprehensive qualities have been uplifted, they have better awareness of the rule of law, they are able to use the standard Chinese language, they master practical skills, their employability is improved generally, and they are free from the confines of terrorism and extremism. In October 2019, trainees who attended the training sessions of the standard spoken and written Chinese language, knowledge of law, vocational skills and de-radicalization graduated.With the assistance of the government most of them have steady jobs now and their quality of life has been improved.

III. Adhere to the integration of de-radicalization and guaranteeing human rights and safeguard the legitimate rights of people of all ethnic groups.

Xinjiang has focused much on guaranteeing human rights in de-radicalization in accordance with the law. Xinjiang’s counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts are not linked to specific regions, ethnic groups or religions. Whoever violates laws of the People’s Republic of China, engages in terrorist and extremist activities, or endangers lives and property of the people will be punished by law. We strictly observe the Counter-terrorism Law of the People’s Republic of China and respect citizens’ freedom in religious beliefs and ethnic customs. Any discrimination based on region, ethnic groups,religions and other grounds shall be prohibited. It strictly forbids that the counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures infringe the basic rights of people of all ethnic groups.

Xu Guixiang: When cracking down on terrorism and extremism, Xinjiang has focused on the rule of law all along, kept improving the legal system and provided legal guarantee to the counter-terrorism and de-radicalization work in accordance with the law. Its counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures have been operated within the rule of law. Now let’s give the floor to Li Juan, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to introduce related situations.

Photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows Li Juan, director of Legislative Affairs Commission of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region speaks at the 74th Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues by XUAR in Urumqi. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Li Juan: Xinjiang’s legislative work is done strictly in accordance with the principles determined by the Constitution and laws, closely combined with the legislative needs of counter-terrorism and stability in Xinjiang. It adheres to the principle of serving the people, relying on the people, benefiting the people and protecting the people. Scientific and standardized legislation has provided legal protection for counter-terrorism and de-radicalization work in line with the law. Meanwhile, the standing committee of the regional people’s congress carries out law enforcement inspections in accordance with statutory duties, limited to the statutory scope, and in compliance with statutory procedures to promote the full and effective implementation of laws and regulations.

In terms of legislation in counter-terrorism and stability, I mainly introduce three aspects. First, it’s the regional legislation in social management. As we can see from the video, for some time, violent terrorist incidents frequently happened in Xinjiang and the life and property of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang were under grave threat and their basic rights were severely violated. Confronted with serious situations, based on full consultation and adoption of experiences of the international community, Xinjiang formulated the first counter-terrorism law and the first China’s regulations on de-radicalization of the state and revised them in 2018. As far as the regulations on de-radicalization is concerned, based on practical work, we sorted out the various manifestations of religious extremism and categorized them into 15 kinds to provide specific guidelines for solving related cases in practice. Following the principle of balancing compassion and severity in the national criminal law, and the idea of reforming offenders through education and rehabilitation, measures for assistance and employment are perfected and further stipulation of establishing the vocational education and training center is made to provide legal support for the counter-terrorism and de-radicalization work in accordance with the law and guarantee the rights of life, health and development. Second, it’s the legislation in religion. For some time, as the religious extremist thoughts were prevalent in Xinjiang, the religious extremist forces wantonly spread related thoughts and coerced religious believers to participate in illegal religious activities, which seriously interferes with religious believers’ freedom in religious belief and the normal order of life and production. For this reason, Xinjiang formulated the Regulations on Religious Affairs, based on the principle of protecting lawful activities, curbing illegal actions, containing extremism, resisting infiltration, and preventing and punishing crimes. It prescribed specifically the rights and interests of religious organizations, venues of religious activities, religious individuals,the religious believers and religious activities to guarantee citizens’ freedom in religious belief and safeguard social solidarity and harmony of religion. Third, it’s the legislation in a multi-ethnic field. As is known to all, Xinjiang is a multi-ethnic region where people of all ethnic groups are equal, united, get prosperous and make progress together. To consolidate the achievement of unity, Xinjiang formulates working regulations of national unity and progress and regulations of creating model district of ethnic unity and progress to enhance publicity of ethnic unity and progress, education and creative activities by means of the rule of law. It is to promote the mutual exchange and communication and to lay a foundation of rule of law for the harmonious co-existence of people of all ethnic groups sharing fruits of reform and development in Xinjiang.

In terms of adhering to rule of law in legislation, when formulating counter-terrorism and stability related law, the standing committee of the regional people’s congress makes the law by strictly observing the legal procedures. Here is an example. In October 2014, the NPC standing committee made the initial review of the Counter-terrorism Law of the People’s Republic of China. Based on the needs of combating terrorism and maintaining stability, by the end of 2014, a leading committee to formulate the implementation of counter-terrorism measures was set up by the standing committee of the regional people’s congress. The drafting team worked for nearly a year and a half and made revisions. During this period of time, 27 related institutions and units were consulted for advice including the regional association of law and governmental agencies. Over 71 pieces of advice were collected and the draft was produced. In March 2016, the standing committee of the regional people’s congress deliberated for the first time and collected 7 suggestions. After the deliberation, the standing committee of the regional people’s congress reported to Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC standing committee about the formulation of the regulations and asked for suggestions for revision. Research groups were sent to Kashgar, Hotan, Aksu and Ili, seminars participated by representatives of people’s congress of prefecture, county and municipal levels were held and field trips were completed. Based on suggestions of various parties, the drafts were revised and completed. The final version of the regulations was passed on July 29,2016 at the second meeting of the 23rd session.

In terms of law enforcement inspection, I mainly introduce three aspects. First, it monitors the work of supervision and justice. It supports and ensures that the judicial organs correctly exercise their powers in accordance with the law. It listens to work reports of the regional high people’s court on the criminal trials and judicial openness and of the regional people’s procuratorate on the investigation and supervision, civil litigation and enforcement and public interest litigation inspection. It urges the regional high people’s court and people’s procuratorate to administer justice strictly and impartially.For four consecutive years, it has organized inspections and court hearings for the representatives on the completion of the work of the regional high people’s court and people’s procuratorate, so as to guarantee people’s participation in justice and promote judicial impartiality.Second, it supervises on work of national unity and harmony in religion. Implementing the law on regional national autonomy, it inspects the implementation of the regulations on national unity and progress. It carries out law enforcement inspection on the regulations on religious affairs and the regulations on de-radicalization.It promotes rule of law thinking and approach and carry out the work of de-radicalization in accordance with the law.Third, it supervises work of safeguarding and improving people’s livelihood. Taking the facilitation of employment as the most fundamental project for ensuring and improving people’s well-being, it carries out law enforcement inspection of the regulations on collective wage negotiation for enterprise workers and the regulations on the protection of labor rights and interests of workers.It consistently carries out supervision on preschool bilingual education, compulsory education, high school education, vocational education, etc., urges the government to give priority to the development of education and seriously study and solve the problems including teacher shortage, etc..

Xu Guixiang: During the process of counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, courts at all levels in Xinjiang adhere to equality of all before the law, safeguard fully the legal rights of suspects and criminals get a fair trial in accordance with the law. Now let’s invite Yuan Qin, deputy director of Urumqi Municipal Intermediate People’s Court to introduce related situations to us.

Yuan Qin: When ruling terrorist-related cases, people’s courts at all levels in Xinjiang adhere to the principle that all people are equal before the law and hold facts as the basis and law as the criterion. The determination is made based on the nature of the crime. It adheres to fairness and justice. Judicial organs at all levels adhere to the principles of a legally prescribed punishment for a specified crime, presumption of innocence, and adjudication of evidence to fully protect the rights of suspects to have a fair trial. Meanwhile, we equally crack down on crime and protect people, so that the innocent are not wrongfully accused and the guilty are not free from punishment.

We guarantee a fair trial in accordance with the law. The people’s courts at all levels in Xinjiang adhere to citizen’s equality before the law and any discrimination based on regions, ethnic groups, religions and other grounds shall be prohibited. In terms of conviction, anyone, in spite of position and contribution, is penalized in accordance with the law. In terms of sentence, offenders are determined according to the crimes, nature of crimes, plots and their extent of harm so that crimes and penalties are commensurate. Related regulations concerning investigator to testify in court and relevant provisions protecting the rights and interests of offender, defender, other litigation participants in the proceedings are formulated. Unjust and false cases are prevented from being ruled. In 2021, 26 cases of illegal evidence were removed, 16 people were found innocent and 56 cases were granted to the procuratorial authorities to withdraw prosecution.

We protect the right of defense in accordance with the law. Citizen’s right to use his or her own language in litigation is fully protected. According to statistics, as far as the total number of judges are concerned, those of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang account for 47.1%. Multilingual intelligent speech translation and transcription system engaging Chinese, Uygur and Kazakh etc. has been researched and developed so that rapid translation of multilingual documents has been realized. The suspect and defendant’s right to defense is fully protected. The investigative authorities, people’s procuratorates and people’s courts take the initiative to inform the suspect and defendant of the right to appoint a defense lawyer. Legal assistance agencies appoint a defense lawyer for the suspect with financial difficulties or not entrusted to the defense for his defense. The defense lawyer can meet and correspond with the suspect and defendant in custody, and can inspect, extract and copy the case files, and the defense is protected by law.

We guarantee the openness of trials in accordance with the law. Judicial openness is implemented and the open, dynamic, transparent, people-friendly judicial mechanism is set. Four platforms including trial process, court hearing, judgement and execution information are set up so that publicized contents are detailed and publicized forms are definite to ensure that citizens have the right to information. In addition to the circumstances that are not disclosed according to the law, case information is disclosed timely for public supervision. According to statistics, in 2021, 210,900 judgments were publicized and 25,400 times of court hearings were live streamed. The judicial process is open and transparent and democratization is increasing.

We have improved the over quality of trial. The yardstick of adjudication of courts around the region is unified and discretion is regulated. First, trial experiences and adjudication methods of similar cases are induced and refined, and rules for the implementation of legal dispute settlement mechanism is formulated. Second, the interdepartmental and inter-specialization professional judges conference system keeps perfecting to provide references for solving difficult, complicated and new mode cases. Third, the focal function of the trial committee is gradually shifted to trial management and instruction. In recent years, the settlement rate of trial of first instance remains to be over 90%, and the rate of remand by second instance and that of petition have been low over the years.

We have uplifted the efficiency of trial comprehensively. Reforms of expedited procedure and leniency system for confessions and punishments are actively promoted. Scientific trial management mode is creatively constructed and resource allocation is optimized. Cases are tried based on expedited procedure, simple procedure and common procedure according to situations. The complicated and simplified are streamed, the light and the heavy, the speedy and the slow are separated so that the simple cases are tried speedily and complicated cases are tried with exactness.When the offender’s right of litigation is secured, the judicial efficiency keeps improving so that impartiality and efficiency are unified and justice comes quickly and visibly.

Xu Guixiang: Now let’s get informed of how procuratorates at all levels in Xinjiang fully guarantee litigation participants’ rights. Let’s give the floor to Yusanjan Asan, deputy director of Cases Management Office of Urumqi Municipal People’s Procuratorate for an introduction to related situations.

Photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows Yusanjan Asan, deputy director of Case Management Office of Urumqi Municipal People’s Procuratorate speaks at the 74th Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues by XUAR in Urumqi. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zhou Peng

Yusanjan Asann: I’m Yusanjan Asan, deputy director of Case Management Office of Urumqi Municipal People’s Procuratorate and senior procurator of the fourth rank. When doing counter-terrorism and de-radicalization work, people’s procuratorates at all levels in Xinjiang, including Urumqi Municipal People’s Procuratorate have earnestly performed duties by observing laws and regulations such as the Constitution, Law on the Organization of the People’s Courts, Prison Law, the Criminal Procedure Law, and the Counter-terrorism Law and adhere to the principle of statute of crimes and penalties strictly. In so doing, facts of the crime are identified accurately and in time and offenders are punished because of the exact application of law and regulations so that innocent people are free from criminal sentence, the litigation participants’ rights are fully protected and human rights are protected comprehensively. Fairness and justice are shown in every case.

Litigation participants’ rights are protected in accordance with the law. At the stages of review, arrest and prosecution, the procuratorate informs the suspect and the defendant of the rights to defense, apply for legal assistance and leniency system for confessions and punishments. The suspect or defendant unable to hire a lawyer due to financial hardship is appointed a defense lawyer by the legal assistance center for free. The lawyer’s litigation rights to read files, meet the defendant, have independent defense etc. are fully protected and their opinions are carefully and comprehensively attended. When interrogating the suspect and defendant in accordance with the law, the procuratorate fully follows the arguments and claims, and protects the litigation rights of the suspect and defendant in accordance with the law. During court hearings in particular, the defendant and defense lawyer’s arguments and claims on evidences, facts and legal applications are heard carefully. After the determination of the court, the procuratorate examines the judgement of the court. If there’s a mistake, a protest is to be filed to the court according to the legal stipulation. If the defendant submits an appeal, the court will start the trial of the second instance based on the stipulation. To protect the suspect or the defendant’s right of using his or her native language in the whole process from examination, prosecution to trial, we will assign a case officer who is proficient in the native language of the person in question to handle the case.

We implement the judicial policy of balancing leniency and severity in accordance with the law. When dealing with the case, the procuratorate adheres to handling the case strictly in accordance with the law and fully performs the function of procuratorial supervision.Facts, evidence, procedures and application of law are focused on and the judicial policy of leniency and severity in accordance with the law is implemented. Clear distinction is called for among leaders, core members of violent terrorist attacks who have organized, plotted and implemented terrorist attacks, inveterate offenders who have committed illegal crimes of religious extremism, people who have been subject to administrative and criminal penalties for violent terrorist, religious extremist criminal activities, the minor and less harmful, those who confess and repent of the crime, minors and deluded, coerced participants and those who surrender, confess, merit, or admit guilt. Opinions are needed in terms of aggravated or mitigated punishment after a comprehensive and full consideration of causes, results, circumstances, nature of the crimes, and social harm, etc..

We safeguard the rights of people serving sentences in accordance with the law. The procuratorate carefully inspects, supervises and regulates the sites where offenders stay, upholding the rights to life and health of those serving sentences. It monitors prison norms, applies medical parole to offenders who suffer from critical diseases and safeguards offenders’ rights to meet, communicate and other legal rights that are not deprived of in accordance with the law.A prosecutor’s mailbox is set in the prison and a reception day is arranged regularly.Offenders’ charges, reports and complaints are registered, investigated, handled and given feedback.Supervision of prisons and courts protects the fair remission of sentences, parole and the right to temporary release from prison in accordance with the law. Timely request, ruling commutation of sentence and parole are conducted to those who meet the conditions of commutation of sentence and parole. Appeals against criminal decisions for offenders should be distinguished in terms of specific conditions.Criminal complaints should not be simply regarded as a lack of remorse.Mistakes and illegal sentence reduction and parole rulings are corrected in accordance with the law.Supervision of prisons is done to crack down on offenders’ violating prison rules, ganging up, bullying, beating, physical punishment, abuse, forced indecent assault, insulting other offenders, robbing, extortion and prison bullying, blackmailing and related tendency.Case analysis,warning education and legal publicity are done. Illegal conducts on the part of the supervisory staff beating and exercising corporal punishment on offenders are taken precaution against and corrected. Violation and illegal conducts on the part of the supervisory staff exercising confinement, police equipment etc. are supervised and corrected in accordance with the law. Supervision of the sites for safety and prevention inspection is enhanced.Supervision of precaution of safety accidents is done and the legitimate rights and benefits of the offenders are protected.

Xu Guixiang: To make us know fully about the effectiveness of Xinjiang’s achievements in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization in accordance with the law, we interviewed related offenders and their defense lawyers and asked them to share with us their personal experiences. Now let’s watch two videos. (the videos are omitted)

Xu Guixiang: Xinjiang’s fight against terrorism and extremism is in line with its practical situations of the social economic development, the interest and expectation of people of all ethnic groups and the common practice of the international community. Xinjiang’s fight against terrorism and extremism is a just act that can stand the test of history.However, some media have kept distorting and smearing by disinformation regardless of the disasters Xinjiang experienced in the past period of time,the great efforts Xinjiang made and achieved in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization in accordance with the law and the extensive common recognition of the international community. They’ve lost their professional ethics as journalists and reduced themselves to political tools of the anti-China forces such as the United States. We despise such behaviors.

More than 2,100 people from more than 100 countries and regions in 158 delegates including UN officials, permanent representative of the countries concerned in Geneva, foreign dignitaries, envoys of African, Latin American and Caribbean, and Arab countries in China, officials of the OIC Secretariat, heads of relevant international organizations in China, as well as foreign religious groups, media journalists, experts, scholars, and “internet vloggers” have visited Xinjiang since the end of 2018. They have surveyed sites of religious beliefs, vocational education and training centers, companies,factories, schools and hospitals and witnessed the real situations of Xinjiang in person. They have evaluated highly of the achievements Xinjiang has made in social stability and development and measures taken in protecting human rights, counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, which has been the common recognition of visionary people around the world.

In July 2020, at the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Belarus made a joint speech on behalf of 46 countries in support of China’s position, conducts and effectiveness on Xinjiang-related issues. In October 2020, nearly 50 countries of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly spoke up in support of China’s measures in Xinjiang at the 75th session and opposed some western countries’ smear against China. Since 2021, at the sessions of the UN Human Rights Council, many countries have supported China’s legitimate position in Xinjiang related issues by means of joint speeches, separate speeches and letters.

The measures Xinjiang has taken in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization and the achievements made are obvious to the international community. Hereby, we advise those with ulterior intention open their eyes, have a look at the real situations of Xinjiang and listen to the real voice of the visionary people in the world. We will keep on working hard to contribute to counter-terrorism and de-radicalization in the international community.

Now let’s watch a video to know more about responses by the fair-minded people from the international community after their visits to Xinjiang.

Xu Guixiang: Now it’s time for the media to ask questions.(omitted)