Mumbai: China’s oppressive policy regarding Uyghur Muslims is gradually coming to the fore. There have been reports of harassment in China’s re-education camps earlier too, this time people have shared some similar experiences.The Uyghur Muslims in Chinese “re-education” camps are forced to eat pork every Friday, confirmed Sayragul Sautbay, who was one of the victims of the atrocities being committed by the Chinese government.
‘Intimidating experiences’
Speaking in an interview, Sayragul said, “Every Friday, we were forced to eat pork meat…They have intentionally chosen a day that is holy for the Muslims. And if you reject it, you would get a harsh punishment.”
She is a medical physician and an educator living in Sweden. Recently, she published a book giving insight into her ordeal, including witnessing beatings.
“I was feeling like I was a different person. All around me got dark. It was really difficult to accept,” Sautbay said
Another such victim is Uyghur businesswoman Zumret Dawut said authorities questioned her links to Pakistan, her husband’s homeland for two months. They questioned her as well about how many children she had, and whether or not they had studied religion.
‘Had to beg to go to the washroom’
She further said that once she had to beg the camp’s male officers to allow her to go to the washroom. She was allowed to go while being handcuffed and the male officers followed her into the washroom.
Speaking on pork being served to the Uyghur Muslims in the camps, she said, “When you sit in a concentration camp, you do not decide whether to eat, or not to eat. To be alive, we had to eat the meat served to us.”
In the past, there have been many such reports in which it has been claimed that China is torturing Uyghur Muslims in such camps.