The United Nations says it resembles “a massive internment camp, shrouded in secrecy.”
But China says the facility is a “vocational education and employment training centre.”
More than a million Uighur Muslims are believed to be held in the Western region of Xinjiang – a mainly Uighur populated area.
Beijing denies accusations of the mass detentions, saying Uighurs who have been involved in crime are being given a second chance through vocational work.
But the centres where they are thought to be held have come under increasing scrutiny by many rights groups.
During questioning at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, which is reviewing China’s human rights record this week, Beijing said it protects the freedoms of its ethnic minorities.
But will the growing international pressure make any difference?
Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom
Guests:
Max Oidtmann – assistant professor of history at Georgetown University
Einar Tangen – political and economic analyst
Sophie Richardson – China director at Human Rights Watch
Source: Al Jazeera News
