China's Persecution of Uyghur Muslims Must Stop - Emily Thornberry MP

China’s Persecution of Uyghur  Muslims
 Must Stop, says Emily Thornberry MP

Dr. Mozammel Haque

“We will not stand silent while the Uighur community remain subject to this terrible repression and persecution, all done to them for no other reason than their Muslim faith..” said Rt. Hon. Emily Thornberry MP for Islington South and Finsbury and Shadow Secretary o State or Commonwealth and Foreign Affairs at the event ‘China’s Brute Crackdown and Incarceration of Uyghur Muslims’ organised by Cordoba Foundation, on Wednesday 13 February, 2019.

Abhorrent prejudice based on religion

Labour MP Thornberry described the situation in Xinjiang. She said, “what we see in China today: hundreds of thousands in mass detention; hundreds of thousands facing cultural re-education and psychological indoctrination; a whole people facing systematic oppression and brutal violence… …Is something we associate with Cambodia forty years ago…or China fifty years ago or in other countries down the decades and centuries where abhorrent prejudice based on religion, race or skin colour - has been allowed to flourish unchallenged.”

“To send the simple message but one that must be shouted loud and clear throughout our country and the world, and one that must be heard by China… That and it cannot be tolerated any longer. And one of the reasons we need to raise awareness of this issue now, and make clear it cannot continue, is that - as we all deaths and even organ harvesting have emerged from the camps,” said Rt. Hon. Thornberry.

.

That is not just abhorrent, it is unacceptable,

and it cannot be tolerated any longer.

Labour MP Thornberry said, “But for that to be happening today, two decades into the twenty-first century, in a country with a permanent seat on the Security Council - that is not just abhorrent, it is unacceptable, and it cannot be tolerated any longer. And one of the reasons we need to raise awareness of this issue now, and make clear it cannot continue, is that - as we all know -- it has been getting worse for the past 5 years, and it is getting worse as we speak, driven by State Secretary Chen.”

Rt. Hon. Thornberry said, “The number of Uyghur currently being detained in re-education centres is at least 1 million, detained for reasons as straightforward as regularly attending mosque. Increasing reports of torture, abuse, deaths and even organ harvesting have emerged from the camps.”

What can be done? Public condemnation, Shut

Down camps and use pressure on the Chinese

So what can be done? asked the Labour MP Thornberry. She said there must be public condemnation, shut down the camps, and or the UK government to use pressure on the Chinese government and prevent deportation of Uyghur asylum seekers back to China. She said, “Clearly, it is important that we maintain public condemnation of the treatment of the Uighurs, and support the call of the UN for the Chinese authorities to shut down the re-education camps now. We also need the UK Government to continue to use intergovernmental forums to apply pressure on the Chinese. Here in the UK, it is imperative we prevent the deportation of Uyghur asylum seekers back to China and expedite asylum applications from Uighur Muslims.”

Impose sanctions against the individuals

who are abusing human rights

“And one option that the Government did not have a year ago is to use the ‘Magnitsky powers’ that Labour ensured were passed into law this year to impose sanctions against the individuals who are abusing human rights. And first in line should be State Secretary Chen.”

Consider implementing export controls

on surveillance technology

Speaking about the role of private sector, Shadow Secretary of State for Commonwealth and Foreign Affairs, Rt Hon. Thornberry said, “The private sector also has a role to play. We must urge any companies operating in Xinjiang province to end any business operations that are contributing to human rights abuses. And the British Government must also consider implementing export controls on surveillance technology that is used by the provincial authorities to monitor and oppress Uyghur Muslims.”

We need to act fast.

“But whatever we do, we need to act fast. China may be an important trading partner, and a vital player in the world, but that is all the more reason to demand that they act on human rights abuses, not for us to turn a blind eye to the glaringly obvious. And frankly, what is happening is glaringly obvious. What was claimed to be an attempt to target extremism and terrorism has morphed into something horrendously different, where the only thing being targeted is those who practice the Muslim faith,” said Rt. Hon. Thornberry.

Now is the time for us to say ‘enough is enough’,

now is the time to tell China this must stop

Mentioning the only thing being targeted is those who practice the Muslim faith, Shadow Secretary of State for Commonwealth and Foreign Affairs, Thornberry said, “In other words, it is the old-age story of ‘us’ and ‘them’, the ‘normal’ and the ‘other’, and as soon as people start to think in that way, and as soon as the state starts to act in that way, and divide people in that way, we are on a very slippery and dangerous slope. And we already a long way day that slope in China. So now is the time for us to say ‘enough is enough’, now is the time to tell China this must stop, and now is the time to ensure the Uighur people can practice their faith in peace. Because there is no ‘them’, there is no ‘other’, there is only ‘us’.”

Lord Ahmed Asks Questions on Uyghur Muslims in China at the House of Lords' Chamber

Lord Ahmed Asks Questions on Uyghur Muslims

in China at the House of Lords’ Chamber

Dr. Mozammel Haque

I am fortunate enough on Monday, the 11^th of February 2019 that I attended the Lords’ Chamber as guest of Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham and listened to the debates, Lord Ahmed asked the question on Uyghur Muslims Community in China. Followings are the question and reply on Uyghur Muslims in China at the House of Lords chamber on 11 February, 2019.

Human Rights Abuses Against the

Uyghur Muslim Community in China

Lord Ahmed (Non-Afl) asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the allegations of human rights abuses committed against the Uighur Muslim community in the Western Province of China.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Conservative Party) replied, “My Lords, we remain seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, including the use of political re-education camps and widespread surveillance and restrictions targeted at Uighur Muslims and indeed other minority groups. Our diplomats recently visited Xinjiang. We believe strongly that everyone everywhere should enjoy equal rights and protections under the law. That is why we are promoting and defending human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, which is a fundamental part of the UK’s foreign policy.”

Closure of these concentration camps

And access for UN representatives

Lord Ahmed (Non-Afl) said, “I thank the Minister for his reply. As he has already confirmed, according to media and social media reports, concentration camps, mass surveillance, forced disappearances, torture and the banning of religious practices are all happening there. Will the Minister join me in condemning these gross violations of human rights by the Chinese authorities, and will he demand the closure of these concentration camps and access for UN representatives to confirm that the detainees have been released and the camps have been closed down?”

We are working on this, including with

the UN – replied Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon replied: “The noble Lord rightly raises important issues and concerns. Reports have also indicated that even basic expressions of religious symbolism, such as the growing of a beard or the wearing of a headscarf, are used as indicators to target particular communities. I assure the noble Lord that we are working on this, including with the UN, which he mentioned. We have clearly asked the Chinese authorities to implement the full recommendations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and we have reminded them both bilaterally—as the Foreign Secretary did last year in his meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister—and in the Human Rights Council that our concerns about the camps and the reports from our diplomats in Beijing require action. On human rights more generally, I assure the noble Lord that I am specifically looking at the next meeting of the Human Rights Council in March to see how we can not just lobby on this issue but build stronger alliances.

Have we warned the International Criminal Court

to keep an eye on what is happening in some of these camps?

Then Lord Dholakia (Liberal Democrats) joined in this debate and said: “My Lords, the noble Lord is right to raise his concerns about the abuse of human rights of the Uighur community in Xinjiang province. Today, Turkey has made a formal protest to the United Nations, asking it to investigate what is going on in that part of the world. Have we made formal representations to the United Nations, and have we warned the International Criminal Court to keep an eye on what is happening in some of these camps?”

Minister assures to raise these issues bilaterally with

China and through building international alliances

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon replied to the above question: “My Lords, as I said, the United Kingdom has taken a very serious stance on this issue. I mentioned the Human Rights Council. At the latest UPR last November, we raised not the general issue of human rights but specifically the plight of the Uighurs and the detention camps. I assure the noble Lord that we will consider all avenues at our disposal to raise these issues bilaterally with China and through building international alliances. It is because of the strength of our relationship with China, which is an important one, that we can raise these issues in a candid manner.”

Reports came that Uyghur Muslims were

forced to give DNA tissue and blood

Baroness Berridge (Conservative) joined in this debate and said, “My Lords, there have been consistent reports from within these re-education camps that Uighur Muslims were forced to give DNA tissue and blood, and consistent allegations that Falun Gong followers have been subject to forced organ harvesting. Have we spoken to the Chinese about our worries about those tests and their purpose, and whether they are in any way connected to the recent worrying reports of rogue gene editing in China?”

China’s actions are disproportionate, discriminatory

Against particular community, said the Minister

 Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon replied: “My noble friend makes some important points. On organ harvesting, I am fully cognisant of the issue of Falun Gong, which I know the noble Lord, Lord Alton, has raised several times. As my noble friend may be aware, Sir Geoffrey Nice conducted a report on this matter, the preliminary findings of which have been made available; the final report is still due. Foreign Office officials attended the launch of the preliminary report and will attend the follow-up meeting. On the other issues she raises, let me assure her that in all our interactions with the Chinese Administration, we have made it very clear that their actions are disproportionate, discriminatory against particular communities and, indeed, counterproductive in the longer term for China as it seeks to establish its position on the world stage. I assure my noble friend that we will continue to raise these issues through all avenues.”

Raise with China the danger to its whole belt

If many countries follow Turkey’s lead

Lord Alton of Liverpool (Cross Benches) joined in the debate and said, “My Lords, in the aftermath of the death in detention of the Uighur poet and musician, Abdurehim Heyit, how does the Minister respond to the Turkish Foreign Ministry—referred to by the noble Lord, Lord Dholakia—calling on China to close the camps, alleging, in its words, “torture and brainwashing” and calling them “a shame on humanity”? Can we expect to see the United Kingdom Government not only press again the human rights point with the Security Council but raise with China the danger to its whole belt and road initiative, which is in jeopardy if many countries with large Muslim populations decide to follow Turkey’s lead and start imposing sanctions, preventing the development of those capital projects?”

The camps are extrajudicial and are held so that

people can change their faith, the Minister said

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon replied: “Like the noble Lord, Lord Dholakia, the noble Lord raises the issue of Turkey and other countries. I assure them that we are working with all international partners on this important priority. I agree with the noble Lord about the camps. First, China claimed that they did not exist. Now the claim is that they are there for re-education. About 10% of the whole Uighur community is being held in these camps. It is clear that the camps are extrajudicial and are held so that people can change their faith. We are aware of the various reports and we will act to ensure that they are verifiable. That does not mean that we are sitting back and doing nothing; we are working with all like-minded partners. As I said in response to the noble Lord, Lord Ahmed, I shall seek to take this up during Human Rights Council meetings as well.”

Consider to make representations about

human rights of children currently caged?

Baroness Kingsmill (Labour Party) joined in this debate and said, “My Lords, will the Government consider making representations to the Trump Administration in respect of the human rights of the hundreds, possibly thousands, of children currently caged, it would appear, many of whom have been lost in the system? There is a real breach there. They are our allies. It would be helpful if representations were being made.”

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon replied: “My Lords, the noble Baroness raises a number of issues, including the allegations of children being caged. All these matters are very much on our radar. Specifically on the American question, I am in regular contact with Sam Brownback, the US ambassador for freedom of religious belief. I hope to meet him very soon and I assure the noble Baroness that we will discuss this issue.”

Try to build up a much stronger response

So that China does listen

Lord Collins of Highbury (Labour Party) joined in the debate and said; “My Lords, there are pictures of these camps on the BBC website. They are huge and the idea that they are somehow for educational purposes is just crazy. Can the noble Lord tell us more about building alliances, because the international response to this crisis has been muted? What is he doing, specifically with other Muslim countries, to try to build up a much stronger response so that China does listen?”

I shall seek to take this up during Human Rights

Council meeting in March  – The Minister said

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon replied: “I too have seen those images and anyone who has cannot help but be appalled by them. The noble Lord raises the issue of building alliances. I have talked about the Human Rights Council and my meeting with the US ambassador for freedom of religious belief. However, this is not just about Muslim countries. As I often say, I defend the rights of Christians and people of no belief, not despite being a Muslim but because I am a Muslim—as anyone of any faith would protect the rights of others. That is the British Government’s approach, which I know is shared by the noble Lord and, indeed, across the House. That is how we will approach this issue.”

Is There Any Change or Omission in The Qur'an

Is there any change or omission in the Qur’an?

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Generally people are curious and pose the question: is there any change or omission or addition in the Qur’an? I think this question must be answered in order to resolve any confusion. I think, it should be clearly said without any ambiguity that there is no changes, no additions, no omissions and no alterations in the text of the Qur’an after the Prophet peace be upon him passed away. It is also to be mentioned that once the Qur’an is collected and compiled as a text by the Third Caliph Uthman bin Affan there is no changes or nothing is omitted from the Qur’an. 

Now, at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London, someone raised this question at the Islamic Circle meeting on 5^th of January 2019. The Question was: Some part of the Qur’an is added or omitted or dropped from the Qur’an? That was the question. Whether this is true or not that is the question.

Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan

Director General of the Centre

Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan, Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre, London, gave a lecture on this issue. He has already talked about the abrogation in the Qur’an or not. He said, “The Qur’an that we have now as a Book is it the real Qur’an that was revealed to Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam or there is some part of it is missing or may be, some part of it is added which is not a part of the Qur’an? This is a question.”

Dr. al-Dubayan said, “Be careful I am going to explain this. Those who believe, from the Sunnah specially, that there is abrogation in the Qur’an; they said there were some verses, may be, two or three or four verses of the Qur’an revealed to the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam during his life and then during his life these were removed from the Qur’an. So revealed to be there and revealed to be removed. The Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam was there.”

“When the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam came to the end of his life, the Qur’an was known as a text; but not all the companions memorized the Qur’an; each one memorized some parts of them; some of them may be two-thirds of the Qur’an; some of them almost all; some of them one Juz’ or two Juz’; three Juz’; but the community, all of them, memorized the Qur’an all together; few only who can memorize the Qur’an completely. Few people only; but most of them memorized some parts,” explained Dr. al-Dubayan.

First Caliph Abu Bakr created a committee

The ICC Director General continued, “About one year, even less than one year after the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam dead, Abu Bakr Siddiq,the First Caliph, himself started to write down the Qur’an, the text. He created a committee. This committee in Madinah used to go to each one in Madinah to ask: ‘Do you memorize anything from the Qur’an? Yes, what do you memorize? I memorize this.’ Then they wrote down what he memorized and then they matched it with others and where is this? Is it this part or this chapter till they complete their work all of it.”

“Abu Bakr wrote this and kept it in his house. After his death, of course, Omar bin Khattab, the second Caliph, took it with him and then Omar bin Khattab all his life about ten years (This subject - Omar bin Khattab and the Qur’an - was talked about before) and then Omar bin Khattab was killed. Then this collection of the Qur’an was given to his daughter Hafsa, who is the wife of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam. After two three years, the Third Caliph, Uthman bin Affan, started the process of writing the Qur’an again. He asked Hafsa to hand over these things that she had. Then Hafsa gave it to them,” Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned.  

The Third Caliph Uthman bin Affan

Created committee and wrote the Qur’an text

The ICC chief continued, “Then Uthman bin Affan again created a committee. The committee also did the same. They went to ask everybody; they checked whatever Abu Bakr wrote before, about 12 years ago; and then they wrote it again. Uthman bin Affan created a committee of companions to read it and to write it; to agree for a certain order as I said to you the Chapters; not the verses; we know from the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam. They wrote it down. In order to avoid any problem, Uthman bin Affan wrote five copies, some historians said, seven copies, some of them said, even about ten copies. He sent one to the major cities; he sent one to Kufa in Iraq; one to Basra; one to Damascus in Syria. They said he sent one to Yemen; and then he kept one in Madinah. Some people said, he sent another one to Makkah. Then the Third Caliph asked the Governor of the cities to ask people when they wanted to have a Qur’an they copied from this copy; that’s why; we have now one Qur’an.”

Companion Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman

asked to do it immediately

Dr. al-Dubayan then enquired how this idea of having one Qur’an came. He described and narrated the events for having to do this. He said, “That was the idea of another Companion who is Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman. Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman was actually in Armenia that time. Can you imagine the companions of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam reached Armenia? He was in Armenia with Muslim army there. Then some one recited the verse of the Qur’an; some body said no, no, this is not like this; it is recited that way. Then the other person said; no, this is not correct; this is the way how it was recited.”

“Then Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman himself, who was the companion of the Prophet, realised that there is something really very dangerous. He moved from Armenia back long way to Madinah; met Uthman bin Affan and said to him: ‘You have to do something urgently before we have the same problem that the Jews and Christians have with the Bible. There are different versions.  Immediately you have to write down.’ Then Uthman bin Affan did it,” Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned the background.

Shia-Sunni story – a political issue,

not religious one

That was the background of having one Qur’an which was written down as one Qur’an after having committees during Abu Bakr, Omar bin al-Khattab and Uthman bin Affan. This is how the present Qur’an compiled as one text, one Book. Now, Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned about the opinion of the Shia and the Shia-Sunni story. He said, “Some Shia, not all Shia; by the way, said that the Qur’an is being changed; why? “There is a long explanation which I am trying to squeeze for you in a short time. You know the story of Shia and Sunni started in the beginning; it was a political issue, not religious issue. Those only dispute between Ali ibn Abi Talib RA because of the Uthman bin Affan the third Caliph was killed; then each one had different idea anyway that led to some fighting; then that was some political.”

“After that those who supported Ali tried to find, say after about, may be, eighty years after, the idea was created that Ali bin Abi Talib is the real and the first Caliph and the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam had a will for Ali. The Will, okay, was removed and then they gave it to Abu Bakr Siddiq. This is something like conspiracy done by the companions. This opinion was created, may be, one century after the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam. Not within a first century. Nobody talked about it,” Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned.

The ICC Chief went into different topic for discussion. He said, “Now the question is: If Allah SWT wanted Ali to be the first Caliph, how come then HE allows His plan to be changed. Question? We know the biography of Abu Bakr; we know the biography of Omar bin al-Khattab; we know the biography of Uthman bin Affan. They are good people. How come suddenly in the last minute of the life of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam they become evil and they changed the will. A good Question? Another thing that is: those who believe in what we call it Immamah or Imanship of Ali; they said Imamship of Ali is something like pillar of Islam. It means, not to be a Muslim till you do not believe in this, according to them; not according to us. From this issue, there is a big question. Okay, if imamship of Ali is so important like Hajj, like Zakat, why it is not mentioned in the Qur’an; where is it? Show us in the Qur’an; where is it? Not there. It is not possible Allah says us something so important; then HE does not mentioned in the Qur’an.”

No additions, No Omissions in the Qur’an

Dr. al-Dubayan then entered into a more difficult question, saying there were two versions of those who believed there are changes in the Qur’an – one believed after the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam and another believed during the lifetime of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam. Dr. al-Dubayan first dealt with those who believed changes took place after the Prophet. He argued, “Most of them came to the idea that the Qur’an has been changed. Good Question. How the Qur’an is changed? They said after the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam, some people just removed the whole Qur’an like this and then they removed all these verses talking about Ali and they removed them and those who cursed Omar removed them; those cursed Uthman they removed them; Abu Bakr removed them. To make them good people. Remove the verses talking about Imammat of Ali ibn Abi Talib to make it so that the people do not know about it. And they said this is the Qur’an.”

“They have a problem about this. Now, those who believed there is a change after the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam that is the problem. That means the Qur’an is not protected. Allah SWT says in the Qur’an We have revealed the Qur’an and We are going to preserve it. Preservation of the Qur’an is that you cannot change it. And till today with all these millions of manuscripts found everywhere in the world you find it always the same text. I think no additions, nothing omitted,” Dr. al-Dubayan clarified the position.

Qur’anic Manuscripts in the Birmingham University

Then Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned about the manuscripts in the Birmingham University. He said, “Recently manuscripts of three or four pages of the Qur’an found in the University of Birmingham; the oldest Qur’an actually. It is one of the oldest manuscripts actually discovered in the Birmingham University. It was actually kept there since about 1920, but nobody paid that much attention to. By chance, one of the researchers came and then found this. Even that one, I checked it myself; it is exactly the same text that is you have in the printed Qur’an. No; not even one single word added; not one single word omitted.”

“The great scholars, the Orientalist, who are not Muslims, who studied the Qur’an, they said it is not possible to find another. There is no other. Even recently, not all Shia, by the way, they follow this opinion. That is the Qur’an. Some of them, not all. Some of them start to change, said: All these Hadiths or references saying that Qur’an has been changed; it is not correct; they are weak. They are not accepted; but still there are references. Okay; some Shia believe exactly like us that the Qur’an is as it is; that’s it,” that was about the Shia, said Dr. Al-Dubayan.

One Text One Qur’an in the whole World

Now talking about the Sunni community Dr. al-Dubayan said, “All of them say that the Qur’an is preserved and these are the Qur’an as it is revealed to the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam and as it was written by Uthman bin Affan. The copies of the Uthman bin Affan, by the way, are till recently, may be hundred years or 400 years, they are still existing. Yes. One copy of it was in Baghdad and then carried to Cairo years ago and from Cairo we assume it is now in Istanbul; there is another one attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib it is in Sanaa, Yemen; and there is another one in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It is believed this is the copy of Uthman bin Affan and there was one also in Andalusia in Spain. Actually when Muslims left Spain somebody carried that copy in a ship that ship sunk in the Mediterranean and the copy lost forever.”

Ibn Battuta mentioned Qur’an by Uthman

Bin Affan in Damascus in 12^th century

“Some historians talked about the copy in Madinah. They said, it is there; but where it is now we don’t know. Ibn Battuta when he entered Damascus in the 12^th century he mentioned in Damascus, every Friday they used to bring out the Qur’an by Uthman bin Affan; people see it; where it is now? We don’t find. Anyway, we want to say Alhamdolillah, finally, we have only one text; one Qur’an. If you see another copy of the Qur’an another version of the Qur’an in the world you will find the same without any changes,” Dr. Al-Dubayan said finally there is only one text One Qur’an.

Dr. al-Dubayan again repeated how the Qur’an was collected and how the Surah and Chapters were arranged. He said, “The Qur’an was written during the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam but it was not collected as one collection. That happened during the days of Abu Bakr when he started this. During the days of Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam people used to memorise than to write. When something revealed, for example, Surah al-Fateha, when they heard the Prophet read in the mosque, when they heard, most of people memorised. The Arabs, by the way, are very good in their memory; memorised even thousands of poetry; so they memorised quickly and because of this, there is also interest of their religion. They have the strong desire to memorise it.”

Difference between collection and collected

“Not all the companions memorised the Qur’an but all of them, all together as a community memorised it all. But it was scattered among them all. That’s why, during the days of Abu Bakr the companions of the committees started to collect them all because there would be no other revelations; because the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam was dead already. During the days of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam it was not collected; because the revelation was continuing; was coming. During the time of Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam, he instructed: first put this Surah in that place; there must be match, where it should be put it; but it was not collected,” mentioned Dr. al-Dubayan.

Ibn Mas’ud’s Qur’an

After explaining the difference between collection and other collected, Dr. al-Dubayan clarified about Ibn Mas’ud’s Qur’an. He said, “Ibn Mas’ud had the same Qur’an but Ibn Mas’ud had the order of the chapters; that’s one, okay. Even Mas’ud did not include Surah Qul Falaq and Qul Nas; he did not know it is part of the Qur’an. So he did not write in his Qur’an. And he had the different order of the Surah; not the verses. Surah only. May be, he has the Surah Falaq in the beginning; or Baqara in the middle. When the third Caliph Uthman ibn Affan  standised the Qur’an; he said: ‘I do not want another Qur’an.’

“When Ali ibn Abi Talib was asked during his time about this, he said: “That is excellent, if he has not done it; I would do it today.’ That is what Ali said. The work of Abdullah ibn Mas’ud is the work of one man, while the work of Uthman ibn Affan is a work of the whole committee including himself, including Ali ibn Abi Talib, including Zayed ibn Thabit. They participated and they were also members of the previous committee. So it is a group of people, not one,” clarified Dr. Al-Dubayan.

Surah Al-Falaq and Surah Al-Nas were revealed during the last days of the Prophet Sallallahu wa Sallam. That time ibn Mas’ud did not think these are verses of the Qur’an. When they told him, confusion gone and he accepted.

Uyghur Congress President Dolkun at Justice4Rohingya Party

World Uyghur Congress President at

Justice4Rohingya Dinner Party

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Justice4Rohingya organised a Fund-raising Dinner Party on Tuesday, 22^nd of January 2019 at the Office of the Universal Peace Federation, London. The moderator for the event, Ms Saleha, introduced Mr. Dolkun Isa, the President of the World Uyghur Congress and requested him to speak on the situation of Uyghur in East Turkestan.

Dolkun Isa, President

Of World Uyghur Congress

Dolkun Isa, the President of the World Uyghur Congress, started with Islamic greeting Assalamu Alaikum and thanking Sheikh Ramzy and Justice for Rohingya for inviting him to speak on the Uyghur issue. “Tragedy has brought the Uyghur and Rohingya people together today. Uyghurs and the Rohingyas have been attacked, assaulted, disappeared and forced to leave their lands. Millions of innocent people are suffering greatly at the hands of Chinese and Myanmar governments,” Isa said.

WUC President also mentioned, “Today millions of Uyghurs are arbitrarily detained in concentration camps by the Chinese authorities. All families are suffering being tortured and dying in the camps. Those of us living outside East Turkestan are deeply saddened and sorrowed by our inability to save them. We are in the 21^st century; communication is no issue at all today. It is a big and serious issue for Uyghurs to forget their family members.”

“99% Uyghur who are living in exile in the UK, Germany and other countries have lost contact with other members of their family. Uyghurs are subject to horrific actions by the Chinese government because we are born Uyghur and Rohingya. We are practising Muslims and we have unique cultural identities and histories,” he mentioned.

China’s Total Assimilation Policy

Dolkun Isa also said, “Uyghurs and Rohingyas are facing horrific persecution by the Chinese and the Burmese government. Millions of people are suffering and dying simply because they are Uyghurs and Rohingyas who are practising Islam. Uyghurs are in the concentration camps. The Chinese government’s policy is total assimilation of the Uyghur Muslims and as a part of this policy; China is threatening the Uyghur people of their ethnic identity, cultural language and their religion.”

“Muslims particularly has been targeted by the Chinese majority. Chinese authorities do not tolerate no other religion and it want everybody should be under the control of the absolute authority of the Chinese communist party. For this reason, the Chinese government has launched a campaign to control every aspect of religious practices in Eastern Turkestan and their religious sentiments entirely. No Uyghur people have religious freedom. Uyghur people are at risk of detention, torture and other mistreatment for their religious belief,” said WUC President.

Muslim Names banned

Dolkun Isa also mentioned, “Today if you visit East Turkestan you can see mosques are surrounded by cameras; men are not allowed to grow beards and women are not allowed to wear hijabs and traditional Muslim names Uyghur chosen have been banned. Today you cannot give the names such as – Muhammad, Ahmad, Ayesha Fatima, etc. We cannot give such a name to a newborn baby. If you are under 16 years old, you have to change your name.”

Fasting during Ramadan Forbidden

“Today during Ramadan, fasting is forbidden and Uyghurs are forced to drink beer, alcohol and even eat pork. You cannot refuse to eat pork and drink alcohol. You cannot find any example in the world of such a condition. What you drink, what you eat, and how you dress, all are determined and controlled by the Chinese government. Uyghurs daily live are threatened today,” Isa mentioned.

Qur’an confiscated

WUC President said, “Even today you cannot greet each other saying Assalamu Alaikum. There is severe punishment for this, if you say or greet Assalamualaikum. In 2017, Chinese government started confiscation of the Qur’an. An order was issued giving some dateline, such as May 2017, asking all people who keep the Qur’an or any other religious books should bring to the local government police station. If you could not bring these religious books and the Qur’an to the police station, the people will be punished. But the people who did not bring Qur’an to the local government and to the police station they would be asked why did you keep the Qur’an? Were you praying? What is the reason? Then there is a big problem. The rest of the people being afraid to bring the Qur’an to the police station or the local government threw the Qur’an, the religious books and the prayer mat into the river in the middle of night. This was happening last year.”

3,000 to 5,000 mosques destroyed

“From October 2016 to October 2017, the Chinese government destroyed 3,000 to 5,000 mosques in East Turkestan. The reason is: mosque is empty. People were afraid going to the mosque. The Chinese government has even made religious persecution into law.  Last month China has launched five year’s campaign to sinicritization of Islam. Islam should be comfortable to the Chinese communist party rule. This was launched last month. Unfortunately, all these things are happening now in East Turkestan but no single Muslim country speaks out except Malaysia. All are silent. Uyghurs are trying to explain to the international community, to the human rights groups, to the Muslim world, to the American government, to the United Nations and to the European countries,” mentioned President Isa.

WUC President expressed his happiness by saying that we have received recently some international reaction. He said, “Recently we received some international reactions. In 6^th of November, the United Nations Human Rights Council reviewed human rights situations in China. There are 14 countries, all of them spoke and made the statement asking the Chinese government close down the camps. Actually today the Chinese government is implementing not only ethnic cleansing against Uyghur; it really starts war against Islam.”

China burnt Qur’an and religious books

WUC President mentioned about the incident of the burning of the Qur’an in New York. He said, “As you remember, three years ago, one of the pastors in New York announced to burn Qur’an, then the entire Muslim world stood up and made protest; but Chinese government last year burnt Qur’an and all the religious books but no Islamic country spoke out on this. I don’t know why; may be, it is of changed situation; because of money. Most of the Muslim countries have economic; economic ties, economic relationship with the Chinese government.”

“Human rights, democracy, rule of law are valued in the western societies today. But sometimes they ignored the law. Because money is most important than the human beings; but fortunately last two three months, at least US Vice President Mike Pence and the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo really made a very strong statement on this, condemning the Chinese government’s position. The European Union and the 14 countries openly condemned the Chinese government and asked the Chinese government to shut down the camps where there were three million Uyghurs,” he mentioned.

Need some concrete action

WUC President is urging everybody for their cooperation and help. He said, “We are trying to call every human being, every civic society and we are asking them to show their solidarity and to help us; because these things have been continuing for a long time; it is not new. It was already happened, East Turkestan was occupied in 1949; since then Chinese government has systematically implemented the assimilation policy of the Uyghur people. It is now more than 70 years; we talked about but nobody cares. Chinese government 20 years ago carefully implemented the assimilation policy. But today China is a big economic power in the world. That’s why; Chinese government now ignored all the condemnations. I have money; I have power; I can do whatever I want - this is China’s mentality today.”

“But it is a time now for someone, some countries, some civic societies, and some human rights groups to say to China to stop; otherwise this situation will turn into genocide like Rohingya. Behind Rohingya genocide, there is Chinese government.  Chinese government is supporting Myanmar government. We heard the voices of the United Kingdom last November.  The United Kingdom, Germany and some countries really condemned the Chinese government,” he said.

Talking about what should be done at this juncture, WUC President Isa urged international community to take some concrete action. He said, “We need concrete action, not only condemnation. We cannot wait; otherwise the Chinese government will kill three million people. This should be good enough experience after Second World War. World leaders gathered together after the Second World War and said, never again. Promised: never again; but it is happening again. But still ignoring it. So it is really a shame for the world of the 21^st century. We have to be united; world governments should speak up; civil societies have some responsibility. We have to get them together; speak up loudly and we have to put pressure on the governments – all these ways to stop this massacre.”  

President Isa of World Uyghur Congress at the Islamic Cultural Centre

World Uyghur Congress President

at the Islamic Cultural Centre

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The President of the World Uyghur Congress, Mr. Dolkun Isa along with his delegation visited the Islamic Cultural Centre, London on Monday, the 21^st of January, 2019 and met Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan, the Director General of the London Central Mosque Trusts and the Islamic Cultural Centre and his staff at the Board Room of the Centre. Dr. al-Dubayan introduced the Islamic Cultural Centre and gave a brief history, background of the foundation of the Centre as well as the activities of the Mosque and the Centre.

World Uyghur Congress President

Dolkun Isa

The President of the World Uyghur Congress Dolkun Isa introduced the situation of Uyghur in Eastern Turkestan. He said, “Xinjiang is autonomous, China does not call Eastern Turkestan. China calls Xinjiang; it is a Chinese name. Xin is new and jiang is border territory. It is a new territory for China. The territorial size is 1.6 million square kilometres (640,000 square miles); it is five times larger than Germany; may be, five or six times larger than the United Kingdom. Most of the places are mountain; only 4.6 per cent inhabitable; 94 per cent is mountainous; but it is rich territory; it is rich in resources, uranium, gold. This is the main reason for the Chinese government. Though the territory is rich, but we the Turkestani people are very poor, because we cannot use all the natural resources; never been benefitted by the Uyghur people. It is used by the Chinese government.”

Speaking about the political climate of China, Uyghur President mentioned, “In 1949 the Communist Party came into power and took control of Eastern Turkestan and in 1955 they gave autonomy to Eastern Turkestan but Turkistani people never seen the real autonomy; just the fake autonomy; or paper autonomy. Even today we have also lot of rights according to constitution. Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution guarantee freedom; everybody can believe their religion; but today in practice we don’t believe in religion. Particularly the constitution did not really practice since the current president of China, Xi Jinping. Since 2013, he attacked all religions; not only the Uyghur Eastern Turkestani Muslims even Han Chinese, Tibetan and all the people already persecuted.”

President Dolkun Isa then talked about the Chinese Cultural Revolution of 1966. There was ten years cultural revolution. “At that time lots of religious people were put in jail. People are talking about genocide, people talking of justice. May be, Hitler killed 20 million people or Stalin killed more than Hilter; but Mao Se Tung already killed 48 million people. But nobody was talking about this. He killed during Cultural Revolution time,” mentioned about Chinese Cultural Revolution period.

The current Communist Party Secretary Xi Jinping was party secretary in Tibet. In August 2016, he was appointed communist party secretary in Turkestan. About him President Isa said, “He brutally killed Tibetan people. From 2014 to 2016 more than 160 Tibetan people burned themselves. That is the only choice they have.”

Concentration camps

President Isa then talked about re-education camps. He said, “Xi Jinping used his experience in Tibet and implemented very strong way that rule in Turkestan. In March or April 2017 he started new regulation called re-education camp. It is actually concentration camp. Some international media called this re-education camp; others called it detention camps; some called concentration camp. However it is re-education centre. Today it has more than 3 million people; in 2018, its number was one million. Since then only after one year passed, we heard every day new people sent to the camp; never heard people came out from the camps. So many killed,”

Muhammad Salih 82 was killed

President Isa talked about Muhammad Salih. “Muhammad Salih translated Qur’an in Uyghur language in 1980s by the order of the Chinese government. But thirty years later because of this job, he was put in the camps in November 2017 and two months later he died in the camp. He was 82-years old,” he mentioned.

Mosques destroyed or demolished

Chen Quanguo became party secretay of the region in August 2016, moved from Tibet.  Speaking about him, WUC President Isa mentioned, “In 2016 after the Chen Quanguo appointed party secretary first and he started confiscation of the Qur’an. In 2016-2017, he destroyed 3,000 to 5,000 mosques in Turkestan. We tried to explain the whole of the world; but nobody listened to us really. Within one year, 3000 to 5,000 mosques completely destroyed. Step by step all the Islamic scholars arrested and sent to re-education camps; step by step in 2016 they issued some special cards to enter to mosques; and step by step they forbidden Ramadan fasting.”

Fasting During Ramadan Forbidden

WUC President spoke about Fasting in Ramadan was forbidden. He said, “In 2016, may be, you have heard this news in the BBC, CNN or all the international media reported over the fasting. Fasting was forbidden but some people felt to fast; so they started fasting secretly. Then Chinese government does not care whether the government employees eat and drink during lunch time; but in 2016 and 2017, Chinese government during the lunch time in Ramadan provided water and food; forced to eat and drink; otherwise they will be punished. Fasting is the personal choice; you fast or not; but in the 21^st century in my country, fasting is forbidden.”

“It is the old tradition of the Turkestani people to fast during Ramadan. During the Ramadan time, all restaurants are closed; just open at Iftar time; but the government forced to open, you should open the restaurants during the daytime. Whoever closes the restaurant during the daytime in Ramadan, will have to close all the time. Their business will be closed. Plus they are forced to sell alcohol and cigarettes in all the Muslim restaurants,” he mentioned.

Alcohol-drinking competition in Ramadan

WUC President also mentioned about alcohol beer-drinking competition during Ramadan. He said, “In 2015, for the first time alcohol beer-drinking competitions during Ramadan time was introduced and implemented and last year in 2018 implemented among the woman.  In 2016, Chinese government gathered all the imams and all the sheikhs and forced them to dance in front of bus. And today China is not only against Turkestani people, not only against Uyghur people; it really starts war against Islam.”

China starts really war against Islam

Speaking about the Qur’an, WUC President mentioned, “In 2016 and 2017, government orders all the people to bring the Qur’an to the local government or to the police station before July 2017; Uyghurs who have Qur’an should bring to the local government; if you don’t bring and if they find this; then you would be punished. The local government asks why you keep the Qur’an; are you reading? Does not matter whether they read it or not. Some scholars do not read the Qur’an but just keep it; but then there are lots of questions and then they did arrest the people who were afraid to bring the Qur’an to the local government but there is one river Ulja river; people in the middle night throw the Qur’an into the river. This is the situation.”

Muslim names Forbidden

President Isa also mentioned about the Muslim names. He said, “When China saw there was no response from the Islamic world, it started step by step other harsh actions. China said, okay, I can do more; step by step they today you cannot give Muslim names even to your baby, to your children; Muhammad, Ahmad, Shahid, Ayesha, Khadija all these names are forbidden. You cannot give such a name to any baby today. Even then came the next regulation: under 16-year old if you have already such a name you have to change.  The government orders: ‘Please change the name, you don’t have to pay alteration and admission fee to the government. So nice of the Chinese government!”

Cannot greet Islamic greeting:

It is a cultural war

WUC President talked about the cultural war. He mentioned, “Today all the mosques are closed in East Turkestan but some mosques are open. China has two types of Muslims:  East Turkestani Muslims, Uyghur, Kazak, Uzbek and the Qui Muslims; then there are Tunqa Muslims; they are 11 million Muslims. They speak in Chinese language. But they are Muslims. They go to the Mosques but Turkestani people are not allowed to go to Mosque; cannot read the Qur’an, and today you cannot greet each other in Islamic greeting – Assalamu Alaikum. It is a cultural war; you cannot greet each other Assalamu Alaikum.”

Check point every 200 meters

WUC President then mentioned about the checking of smart phone. He said, “On your way police will stop you and ask you for smart phone. Every 200 meters there is check point. In the capital of Turkestan 960 police man in the station; it means every 200 to 300 meters there is check point. They ask the people to stop and ask for their smart phone. In any phone,  if they find any word religious or Islam that will be a big problem for you. That’s why people today, really afraid to use smart phone.”

President Isa lamented on the

silence of Muslim world

President Isa lamented, “All these things are happening in Eastern Turkistan, Muslim world just silent on this. Three years ago, one of the catholic pastors in New York burnt Qur’an on the street; world Muslims stood up; Turkestani people gathered and protested against him and it was stopped because it was in America. But today China burnt the Qur’an but no news, no reaction from the world. We cannot give the names; we cannot say Salam alaikum.”

Mother passed away in the

concentration camp

Speaking about his personal tragedy, Isa mentioned, “I personally lost communication in the middle of April 2017. Since then I have no news; my mother passed away in the concentration camp; my mother was 78 years old lady; and I lost contact with her. Just 12 June last year 2018 suddenly I got the sad news; breaking news that my mother passed away.”

“It is 21^st century I tried to contact; communication is not the issue for the people. I am trying to contact world institutions how she was passed away? Still I did not have an idea about this. What was happening? She passed away in camps and I had no idea. International media rung the police station two three weeks later and I heard my mother was arrested one year ago; put her into concentration camps and she passed away nearly one year later. She was 78 years old lady. We believe in God, we believe in Allah; I can meet her in the next life. My father is 90 years old but I had no idea whether he is alive or dead. No news coming; no news,” lamented Isa.

WUC President also mentioned about his other relations. He said, “After I got the news of my mother passed away I was crying. I suffered quite a couple of months; okay I make dua for her; but I have no idea about my father; whether he is alive or dead. My younger brother has disappeared since May 2017; he was in concentration camps. This time just a couple of weeks ago, I heard about my older brother; he was a professor; he was sentenced for thirty years.”

What type of re-education is this?

WUC President questioned about the type of re-education is this. He said, “Today couple of hundreds professors, scholars, lawyers are in the camps. China said, we are re-educating them. Do you really re-educate the professors, for what purpose? Even some professors already 90 years-old; 90-years-old professors will be educated; yes. Actually the Chinese government have the ethnic cleansing policy there. They actually start war against Islam. We are suffering because we are Muslims. That’s the issue.”

Double-faced Chinese government

President Isa mentioned about the double-faced China. He said, “The Chinese government has two faces: if they visit Western countries they say woh, we are victim of terrorism, because the Western world believes Muslim and Islam is terrorism; yes China uses the same. Uyghur is Muslim. That’s why, China argued they are victim of terrorism; and on the China’s list I am on the top of the terrorist list. My name was in the Interpol; I have been suffering 21 years; fortunately last year 2018 February finally my name is deleted from the Interpol. I have been fighting; never stopped fighting. I have never seen bomb in my life. I have never seen real gun in my life; I just saw in the movie; but I am top number of terrorism.”

“China is trying all; if you read Qur’an you are terrorist; if you are saying Salam Alaikum you are immediately called terrorist; because in January 2016 China has passed a new bill Counter-terrorism Law. If you say Salam Alaikum; it is terrorism; everything is terrorism. If China has diplomatic communication with the Western countries they say we are victim of terrorism. We Turkestani are terrorists,” said President Isa and added, “If they go to Muslim countries, they say we have Muslim minorities. They cheat the people; because of ethnicity, because of religion, we really suffer for this.  Step by step they are doing it. They are coming to the other parts of China.  Muslims in China as well. So it is really an unimaginable situation now in Turkestan.”

We Turkestani seek help from the Muslim World

WUC President urged the Muslim world to help Turkestani Muslims. He appealed to the Muslim world. “We seek help from the Muslim world; your help; we need because it is 21^st century if someone say China to stop; it works. Lot of lobbying work are needed. There is United Nations; there are more than 15 European countries; we have to work with them.  6^th of November, 2018, United Nations review China’s human rights report. More than 4,000 Turkistani people gathered in the United Nations Geneva; we held a big demonstration.  Before this, on 27 April, another 5000 Turkistani people gathered before the European Council in the Brussels. We held big demonstrations. Now slowly slowly international media pay attention to the Uyghur situation and the United Nations special session on China 14 countries sit all and they asked the Chinese government to close immediately these camps and they closed these camps. UK also spoke; Germany also spoke. Unfortunately, no one Muslim country except Malaysia.”

Islam is illness and this must be

Eradicated: It’s a slogan

Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan wanted to know the human rights situation in other parts of China and also enquire about the other religious communities in China. President Isa replied, “There are lots of problem also; there is lots of human rights lawyer, human rights defenders were in jail and some persecution of Christians as well; because Chinese communists party is anti-religious government. Today Chinese Christians are also victims of Chinese persecution. Today Buddhists in Tibet also.”

“But if you compare the situations of Muslims with some other religious groups; it is unbelievable; because Chinese government say Islam is illness; yes, they openly say this. Islam is illness and this illness must be eradicated; it is a slogan,” mentioned WUC President Isa.