WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2018 — The American Bar Association is disturbed at credible reports that the Chinese government is forcing large numbers of Turkic Muslims from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region into detention camps and attempting to forcibly repatriate those who have fled to seek asylum in other countries. International law, established in part to prevent such gross human rights abuses against religious and ethnic minorities, strictly forbids this treatment of any population, for any purpose, by any government.
The ABA therefore urges the government of China to close the detention camps and to ensure that Uyghurs detained in jails and prisons on allegations of criminal misconduct are afforded due process of law. The ABA further recommends that the United States and other governments exercise their influence with the Chinese government to achieve these objectives.
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