3 liars make a tiger, says China embassy official

KUALA LUMPUR: Problems in Xinjiang province are China’s internal matters, said the Chinese embassy.

Its spokesperson, Tang Tang, said the Chinese government safeguarded the freedom of religious beliefs of all its citizens, including those of the Uighur minority.

“These are not human rights, ethnic or religious issues, but issues of anti-terrorism, anti-separationism and de-radicalisation.”

He issued the statement following a protest on Friday that saw hundreds of people gathering near the embassy over the alleged atrocities by the Chinese government against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang.

The protests were separately led by the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (ABIM) and Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia (HTM) to express anger over China’s purported normalisation and re-education of the Muslim minority.

Tang said the people were being blinded by fake news, distorted reports and accusations on social media.

“I would like to remind you of two old Chinese sayings, “three liars make a tiger” and “seeing is believing”. I sincerely welcome Malaysian friends, especially Muslim friends, to visit Xinjiang and to discover a beautiful, peaceful and prosperous real Xinjiang with your own eyes.

“I hope you can distinguish the truth from the falsehood, instead of being deceived.”

During the protest, ABIM president Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz urged the Chinese government to open up the so-called reeducation camps in Xinjiang to independent observers.

“Be transparent. Stop the persecution of the Uighur and uphold the democratic process and freedom of religion.”

HTM spokesman Abdul Hakim Othman said the organisation would continue to voice out against the alleged persecution of the Uighur.

He urged the Chinese government to stop torturing the Muslim minorities and release them from the alleged concentration camps.