Chinese parliament makes persecution of dissidents and Uyghurs easier!

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) warns that the new anti-terror laws in China will make the persecution of Uyghurs and dissidents easier - rather than protect critics. "The controversial law gives the impression of a pseudo rule of law, because the term "terrorism" is so broadly defined that even Uyghur opposition members may randomly prosecuted as "terrorists" now," said the STP's expert on questions regarding Asia, Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Monday. Especially members of the Muslim minority and their organizations are collectively accused of terrorism by the Chinese security authorities. On Saturday, the new anti-terror laws were approved by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and are now legally enforceable.

"We fear that the Chinese authorities will use the new laws to gain more international support in fighting the Uyghur government critics in the autonomous region of Xinjiang," said Delius. "Nevertheless, the increasing riots in north-western China are based on home-made problems and - so far - have nothing to do with international terrorism." Accordingly, foreign security experts tend not to recognize China's struggle against Uyghur human rights activists and dissidents as part of the global anti-terror war.

So far, suspected terrorists were mostly charged of threatening state security ?" but with the new laws, China initially defines a concept of "terrorism". The term includes all activities that endanger public order and safety or put pressure on government bodies and international organizations that might negatively affect society or cause economic losses. Also, the mere promotion or support of such activities is “terrorism” according to the new laws.

Within the next weeks, the Chinese Ministry of State Security will publish a new list of organizations suspected of "terrorism". "We expect that all leading Uyghur human rights organizations will appear on this list ?" by which the Chinese leadership would lead the general idea of international anti-terror campaigns to absurdity." The efforts to establish military bases in the border area between Pakistan and Xinjiang show how intensely Beijing is fighting Uyghur dissidents.