Experts and human rights groups say more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities are held in a network of camps in Xinjiang.
But Alken Tuniaz, vice chairman of Xinjiang, told reporters at a press briefing that “most personnel who have received educational training have already returned to society and have returned home.”After initially denying their existence, Beijing has gone on a public relations blitz to defend what it calls “vocational education centres” as a necessary measure to counter religious extremism and boost employment.
But former inmates have said following Islamic traditions, such as wearing long beards and face veils, was the reason they were incarcerated in the first place. “Taking measures to force people to give up their faith is a strategic policy that the Chinese government is carrying out locally,” he added.Chinese officials spent most of the press briefing praising the economic successes of Xinjiang over the past 70 years, including increases in gross domestic product, disposable income, and improved infrastructure.