Turkish-Islamic community to hold protests over Uyghurs

The Islamic Community National View (IGMG), one of Germany's largest Muslim-Turkish associations, is planning to stage protests next month against China's treatment of Uyghurs, its chairman said Wednesday.

IGMG will hold protests on Feb. 2 in 20 cities in 13 countries by reading a statement in front of Chinese embassies and consulates, said Kemal Ergün.

The group will protest against China's policies affecting Uyghurs living in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region -- also referred to as East Turkestan -- and express solidarity with them, said Ergün.

In a written statement, he said China is violating international human rights law by forcing Uyghurs to leave their religion and culture, separating families in training camps.

"The international community must take action against China's oppression. Human rights cannot be sacrificed for the sake of economic relations," said Ergün, expressing disappointment over the international community's silence over the issue.

At a meeting last August in Geneva, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region accused of having "strong religious views" and "politically incorrect" ideas were jailed or detained in political "re-education camps".

The UN body's representatives said up to 3 million people have been detained without trial.

Human Rights Watch previously announced that the Chinese government was conducting a mass, systematic campaign of human rights violations against Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang.