Xi Calls for ‘Sinicization of Islam’ During Visit to Xinjiang

Chinese President Xi Jinping (AP)
Chinese President Xi Jinping (AP)
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Xi Calls for ‘Sinicization of Islam’ During Visit to Xinjiang

Chinese President Xi Jinping (AP)
Chinese President Xi Jinping (AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare visit to Xinjiang on Saturday, calling on officials to promote the “Sinicization of Islam” and effectively control illegal religious activities in a troubled region where Beijing is accused of severe human rights abuses.

State broadcaster CCTV said that during his first publicly known visit to Xinjiang since July 2022, the Chinese President stressed that top priority must always be given to maintaining social stability. “We must use stability to guarantee development,” he said.

Xi added, it was “necessary to... combine the development of the anti-terrorism and anti-separatism struggle with the push for normalizing social stability work and rule of law,” according to the broadcaster.

CCTV said Xi also urged officials to more deeply promote the Sinicization of Islam and effectively control illegal religious activities.

“In the process of Chinese-style modernization, we will better build a beautiful Xinjiang that is united and harmonious, wealthy and prosperous,” he added.

The Chinese government has pursued a years-long campaign against what it describes as terrorism and Islamic extremism in the northwestern region, detaining large numbers of Uyghurs and other Muslims, AFP said.

A United Nations report last year found China's actions in Xinjiang may constitute “crimes against humanity”, and the United States and legislatures in other countries have labelled the policies a “genocide”-- claims Beijing denies.

Beijing also vehemently rejects allegations it exposed forced labor on members of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, saying training programs, work plans and better education have helped eradicate extremism in the region.

In Saturday's speech, Xi said officials must “strengthen positive publicity and show Xinjiang's new atmosphere of openness and self-confidence... (while) refuting all forms of false public opinion and negative or harmful speech,” CCTV reported.

The region should also open up further to domestic and foreign tourism, Xi said, according to the broadcaster.



Iran Says 5 Inmates at Evin Prison Were Killed in Israel's Airstrike on Tehran

Evin Prison (File photo: Reuters)
Evin Prison (File photo: Reuters)
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Iran Says 5 Inmates at Evin Prison Were Killed in Israel's Airstrike on Tehran

Evin Prison (File photo: Reuters)
Evin Prison (File photo: Reuters)

An Israeli airstrike on Iran's capital last month killed five inmates at Evin prison and resulted in the escape of several others, Iranian media reported Saturday.

The semi-official ILNA news agency and other Iranian media quoted a spokesman for Iran’s judiciary that the five inmates killed in the June 23 strike had been convicted on financial offences. The spokesman didn't name the victims or give any further details.

The judiciary’s own news website, Mizanonline quoted spokesman Asghar Jahangir as saying only that “small number" of inmates were killed. He added that an “insignificant number of inmates” had also escaped and that authorities would soon bring them back into custody, AFP reported.

Jahangir said no one serving time at Evin prison for working with Israel's spy agency Mossad was injured in the attack.

Iranian authorities last month put the death toll from the airstrike at 71. But Iranian media later raised that number to 80 including staff, soldiers, inmates and visiting family members.

It's unclear why Israel targeted the prison. The Israeli Defense Ministry had said on the day of the airstrikes that 50 aircraft dropped 100 munitions on military targets “based on high-quality and accurate intelligence from the Intelligence Branch.”

The New York-based Center for Human Rights had criticized Israel for striking the prison - seen as a symbol of repression of any opposition - saying it violated the principle of distinction between civilian and military targets.

The 12-day air war left more than 1,060 dead in Iran and 28 dead in Israel.