Australia has called on China to end arbitrary detention of Uighurs, human rights groups say

Australia has called on China to end the arbitrary detention of Uighurs ahead of Marise Payne’s visit to Beijing, human rights groups say.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne. Picture: AAP

Australia is “alarmed” by China’s policies in Xinjiang and has called on China to end the arbitrary detention of Uighurs in the region the night before Foreign Minister Marise Payne’s visit to Beijing.

The comments are the strongest yet from the government and were delivered by Australia’s UN representatives at the Universal Periodic Review of China’s human rights record in Geneva overnight.

Senator Payne is visiting China this week after a major diplomatic brawl between the two countries and the UN intervention will be noticed in Beijing.

“Australia shares the UN’s alarm at numerous reports of detention of large numbers of ethnic Uighurs and other Muslim groups held incommunicado and often for long periods without being charged or tried, which exacerbates rather than prevents religious extremism,” Australia’s UN representatives said in a statement.

“Australia recommends that China cease the practice of arbitrarily detaining Uighurs and other Muslim groups in Xinjiang, which is more likely to exacerbate than prevent religious extremism and, as recommended by the UN [Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination], immediately release individuals currently detained.”

“Australia recommends China cease restrictions, including military and police measures, on Uighurs’ and Tibetans’ freedom of movement”

China’s human rights record was reviewed and all countries have the opportunity to ask questions of Beijing and make comments about specific issues.

While countries such as North Korea lauded China’s “success” on human rights, activists were “encouraged” by the strength of Canberra’s intervention.

“Australia hit a lot of the key issues in a very short time,” Sophie Richardson, China Director at Human Rights Watch, told The Australian.

“They also called for a cessation of torture and the death penalty, for religious freedom and for releasing human rights defenders.”

“That’s very encouraging I think the key question is the extent to which that forms the basis of bilateral interventions when Marise Payne goes to Beijing.”

Ms Richardson said it would be much more meaningful in Senator Payne raised the issue in her meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi this week.

Human Rights researcher Andréa Worden said the Australian delegation called for Beijing to stop detaining citizens of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang in the intervention.

“Australia hit many points, [including ending the] arbitrary detention of Uighurs in Xinjiang, working towards [the] abolition of [the] death penalty … ensuring freedom of movement of Uighurs and Tibetans, protecting freedom of religion,” she tweeted.

The Australian contacted Ms Worden and she confirmed the Australian delegation made the statement.

Lobby group, the World Uighur Congress said that Australia called on China to cease the arbitrary detention of Uighurs and other groups in Xinjiang and to allow diplomats access to Xinjiang and Tibet.

In Senate Estimates the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that three Australian citizens had been detained last year in Xinjiang and had since been released.

The department said China had denied their diplomats access to Xinjiang.