US 'deeply disturbed' by studies of systematic rape of Muslims in China camps
04 February, 2021
AMERICA is "deeply disturbed" by reports of systematic rape and sexual abuse against ladies in internment camps for ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims in China's Xinjiang region and there has to be serious consequences for atrocities committed there, the US State Department said on Wednesday (Feb 3).
A BBC report previously Wednesday said women in the camps were at the mercy of rape, sexual abuse and torture. The British broadcaster explained "several ex - detainees and a guard include informed the BBC they experienced or saw evidence of an organised program of mass rape, sexual abuse and torture".
Asked to comment, a State Division spokeswoman said: "We happen to be deeply disturbed by reviews, including first-hands testimony, of systematic rape and sexual abuse against ladies in internment camps for ethnic Uighurs and additional Muslims in Xinjiang."
The spokeswoman reiterated US charges that China has committed "crimes against humanity and genocide" in Xinjiang and added: "These atrocities shock the conscience and must be met with serious consequences."
The official said China should allow "immediate and independent investigations by international observers" in to the rape allegations "as well as the other atrocities being committed in Xinjiang".
Beijing denies accusations of abuse in Xinjiang, and has explained the complexes it create in your community provided vocational training to help stamp out Islamist extremism and separatism. Those in the conveniences contain since "graduated", it says.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the BBC report was "wholly without factual basis" and charged that the people interviewed for it have been "proved multiple times" to be "actors disseminating false information".
The administration of US President Joe Biden, which took office on Jan 20, has endorsed a determination made the prior day by the outgoing Trump administration that China has committed genocide in Xinjiang.
Last year, a report by a German researcher published by a Washington think tank accused China of using forced sterilisation, forced abortion and coercive family planning against minority Muslims.
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