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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Deported Uighurs returned, accused of seeking jihad |
| 2015-07-13 |
| [Reuters] Some of the Uighurs last week deported to China from Thailand had planned to go to Syria and Iraq to wage jihad, Chinese state television said, showing images of them being bundled out of an aircraft with black hoods over their heads. Last week's deportation of 109 Uighurs has sparked anger in Turkey, home to a large Uighur diaspora, and increased concern among rights groups that they could be mistreated upon their return. In a report on Saturday, state television said some of those deported had admitted to being incited by messages from the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement, as well as exiled group the World Uyghur Congress. The report said, "A fair number of them were stirred up and bewitched by terror videos issued by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement and World Uyghur Congress. While they were being trafficked, there were those who continued to impart and stress religious extremist thinking, instigating them to go to Syria and Iraq to take part in a so-called jihad." At least 13 of those returned are suspected of terror offenses, the report said. It showed people with black hoods over their heads and large numbers pinned to their chests as they sat in a commercial aircraft surrounded by Chinese police in face masks. Upon landing, they were led out with their heads held down, and at least one apparently in chains. A senior Chinese police officer said that some Uighurs who reached Turkey were being sold as "cannon fodder" to such groups as Islamic State. China has expressed anger at criticism of its handling of the matter. China's Foreign Ministry said it had registered a protest with the United States over its condemnation of the deportations. It said that the U.S. statement distorted the facts, was prejudiced and would only spur further illegal immigration. |
| Posted by:ryuge |