A prominent human rights activist and China critic based in Kazakhstan has been arrested by Kazakh police and charged with inciting ethnic strife, according to his lawyer
Serikzhan Bilash is the co-founder of Atajurt, an Almaty-based organization that brings attention to the crackdown on Muslims in China's western region of Xinjiang.Aiman Umarova, Bilash's lawyer, said that her client was arrested on Saturday night in Almaty and transferred to Astana, the Kazakhstan capital. Umarova added that Bilash was"roughed up" during his arrest.If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison. Kazakhstan authorities could not be reached for comment.
Bilash and other critics argue the facilities are re-education camps for political indoctrination and are an attempt to erase any Islamic presence from the region under a so-called policy of sinicization -- a process that attempts to assimilate minority cultures into the majority Han Chinese culture.Muslim minoritiesAtajurt has publicly lobbied for the closure of the Xinjiang camps and published accounts of those who had been detained and released.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kazakh China rights activist detained on hate speech chargesKazakh police have detained a Chinese-born activist who has campaigned on behalf...
Read more »
China says Xinjiang has 'boarding schools', not 'concentration camps'China is running boarding schools not concentration camps in the far western reg...
Read more »
Senior China diplomat urges U.S. to meet China halfwayThe Chinese government's top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, said on Fr...
Read more »
Senior China diplomat says China-U.S. trade talks have made substantive progressThe Chinese government's top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, said on Fr...
Read more »
Opinion | A whistleblower on Xinjiang has been detained. Is China behind the arrest?Opinion: A whistleblower on Xinjiang has been detained. Is China behind the arrest?
Read more »
China Plans To Build The World's First Solar Power Station In SpaceGiant photovoltaic array could provide an inexhaustible supply of clean energy
Read more »
Kia Motors considers suspending its No.1 plant in China - sourceKia Motors may halt operations at its No.1 plant in China as part of its longer-...
Read more »
Kudlow staying ‘bullish’ on U.S.-China trade dealWhite House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said he remains “bullish” on the prospect of a U.S.-China trade deal being finalized sometime in April
Read more »
Kia Motors considers suspending its No.1 plant in China: sourceKia Motors may halt operations at its No.1 plant in China as part of its longer-...
Read more »