You may have already come across these trending hashtags on social media: #China_is_terrorist and #China_kills_Muslims. This is because China faces international condemnation for actions one can call terrorism against a group of people: Uighur Muslims.
China rounded up an estimated one million Uighurs (alternately Uygurs, Uyghurs or Uigurs) and other mostly Muslim ethnic minorities in internment camps in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
Muslims are a minority group in China, representing between 0.45% to 2.85% of the total population according to the latest estimates.[1][4] Though Hui Muslims are the most numerous group,[5] the greatest concentration of Muslims is in Xinjiang, with a significant Uyghur population.
Note: Disturbing content ahead.
However, many people across the world knew nothing about it, until a Twitter user shared a graphic video from Now This News. This subsequently fueled outrage on social media, leading the hashtags to go viral.
#China_kills_Muslims #China_is_terrorist I request a of you to please rt this. there are so many people that have no idea this is happening. please bother watching this video. just look at whats happening. Astaghfirullah.
— SAQIB Birthday Boy🎂🎊 👨⚖️ (@Apna_time_ayga) December 22, 2019
So far, asides the outrage online, people in Hong Kong took to the streets to rally against the inhumanity Muslims in China are forced to endure. The pro-democracy movement likens their plight to that of the oppressed Muslim minority.
The emergence of a huge surveillance and prison system in Xinjiang has been watched closely in Hong Kong, leading to violent protests against Beijing’s rule. Pro-Uighur chants and flags have become commonplace in Hong Kong’s marches. However, today’s rally was the first specifically dedicated to Uighurs.
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Around 1,000 people gathered in a square close to the city’s harbourfront. They listened to speeches warning that the Chinese Communist Party’s crackdown in Xinjiang could one day be replicated in Hong Kong.
Shouting through a loudspeaker to a crowd, one speaker said:
“We shall not forget those who share a common goal with us, our struggle for freedom and democracy and the rage against the Chinese Communist Party.”
But their protests were not met kindly.
#Hongkongers today staged a rally in support of #Uyghurs, but #hkpolice moved in to end the rally with batons and teargas. #Police even pointed guns at #HongKongProtesters. #PoliceBrutality #policestatehk pic.twitter.com/kKftL5W28d
— Demosistō 香港眾志 😷 (@demosisto) December 22, 2019
Hong Kong riot police subsequently broke up a solidarity rally for China’s Uighurs. One officer even drew a pistol.
According to an AFP reporter on the scene, the initially peaceful rally descended into chaos when a small group of protesters removed a Chinese flag from a nearby government building and tried to burn it.
Organisers stopped the flag being burned but riot police then swooped in with pepper spray. This sparked anger from the crowd who threw water bottles. One officer drew his side-arm and pointed it at the crowd but did not fire. Multiple protesters were seen being detained.
The rally in support of Uighurs is likely to anger Beijing.
Meanwhile, take a look at some reactions elicited online below:
If Israel kills Palestinian,
If USA kills Afghani,
If India kills Kashmiri,
If serbia kills bosnian,
If Maynmar kills Rohingyan
Then we Muslims protest but why same Muslims are silenced over China’s repression of Uighar Muslims????#China_kills_Muslims#China_is_terrorist pic.twitter.com/S8LjTufV3O— I’m Aboki (@Babangiida1) December 22, 2019
What is happening in China is nothing but act of terrorism, uncountable China non-Muslims are living in many countries outside China, and they are living freely, what is wrong with our love for humanity even if you don’t love my religion #China_is_terrorist #China_kills_Muslims pic.twitter.com/pqU9amNROO
— Young_Journalist📺☎️ (@Abubakar_Mhmmad) December 22, 2019
If Pakistan, India’s crumbling gangs and Uwaisis are so much concerned about Muslims, then why not raise the voice for these Chinese Muslims whose eyes and mouth are sewn up.#China_kills_Muslims pic.twitter.com/ouGRY1EnNa
— #ɪAᴊɪᴛDᴏᴠᴀʟNꜱᴀ (@iAjitDovalNSA) December 22, 2019
#China_kills_MuslimsPlease spread awareness! People need to know about what inhumane things the Chinese are doing to the Uyghurs.
You don’t need to be a muslim to feel their pain, just be human. #China_is_terrorist #China_kills_Muslims pic.twitter.com/VPT4aQDrMC
— #SaveUyghurs (@sideeqsedo) December 22, 2019
I’m a Muslim
They kill me in Israel Palestine
Kill me in USA Afghani,
Kill me in India Kashmiri,
Kill me in bosnian,
Now I’m being killed in china
And they called me terrorist
Who is the terrorist??? #China_kills_Muslims#China_is_terrorist pic.twitter.com/IpV1Th0PY4— I’m Aboki (@Babangiida1) December 22, 2019
The world is not free till people can practice their own religion without pressure nor fear.
The maltreatment & killing of Uyghur Muslims in China is barbaric & should be condemned.
Muslims are human too. #China_kills_Muslims
The world is big enough to contain all religion. pic.twitter.com/BZGmxi5798
— Mazi Anyasi (@anyasi_emma) December 22, 2019
China calls this “re-education“, forcing muslims to eat pork, drink alcohol, r****g them, changing their religion and torturing them. where are the human beings rights? #China_is_terrorist #China_kills_Muslims #الصِّين_بلد_إرهابي pic.twitter.com/nQyz2KeRB1
— Zülfikar berkin (@Berkin1884) December 22, 2019
What is the world turning into
you don’t need to be a Muslim to feel their pain💔
China calls this “re-education“, they force muslims to eat pork, drink alcohol, r**e them, change their religion
Allah Is there and wallahi He will judge u guys for this#China_kills_Muslims pic.twitter.com/QxzZoQ0lbT— SassyBishh👑🖤✨ (@yumnerh_) December 22, 2019
don’t close ur eyes 🙈
don’t close ur ear 🙉
don’t close ur mouth 🙊
no need to be Muslim but this is a matter of humanity and justiceif u are a HUMAN please share to respect 😭#China_is_terrorist #China_kills_Muslims pic.twitter.com/owgDlyaIuL
— Mrs-Z (@taghrid_z) December 22, 2019
I’m retweeting every tweet that comes with the #China_kills_Muslims today pic.twitter.com/jTikUFXoRd
— House Gryffindor 👌 (@its_horlahmi) December 22, 2019
You can torture us
You can torment us
You can hurt us
You can kill us
But we are never giving up, because we are MUSLIMS!!!
I’m never using any China product again, not even mobile phones… Me and them are done for good#China_kills_Muslims #China_is_terrorist pic.twitter.com/UWNGWrgRmd— A-LONER™️👻💀 (@Suphyanjr) December 22, 2019
China rolled out a sweeping crackdown on Uighurs and other Muslim minorities after a series of deadly attacks by militants. It bristles at any criticism of its policies in Xinjiang and warns against foreign criticism.
Beijing initially denied the existence of the Xinjiang camps, but now says they are “vocational training centres” necessary to combat terrorism.
Few Muslim countries have openly criticised China given its huge economic clout. But increasingly high profile figures are speaking out.
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, a German of Turkish origin, criticised China’s actions last week and the Muslim community’s silence but has since come under a barrage of attacks from Beijing.
Sources: Twitter, AFP / Jerome Taylor, Now This News
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