It literally was just deradicalization. Does that mean some police abuse occured? Almost certainly, because that is inherent to any kind of policing culture. However, what is overwhelmingly verifiable from even Western media prior to the anti-China turn, was that the main targets of radical bombing aggression were primarily traditional, more moderate, Uighur mosques, who were resisting a more radical turn towards a Wahabist and Mujahideen informed ideology, not the Chinese state. The deradicalization campaign came much at the behest of these religious leaders, informed by fear of escalation from similar radical bombing campaigns that were occuring in Iraq, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan.
And unlike in those countries, China actually has the state capacity to respond to those constituent concerns in an ordered fashion that doesn't rely on paramilitaries. In particular, the main educational focus was on the historical place of women in Islam, and that the idea that the radical separation of women from public life was a departure from traditional Uighur practices, even prior to communism. There are more mosques in the Xinjang now than before communism, more now than before the deradicalization campaign.
Does that mean that there were no individual abuses of power, even some systemic corruption and bribery? It does not. In fact those almost certainly happened. But a genocide, even 'cultural'? No.
Does that mean that there were no individual abuses of power, even some systemic corruption and bribery? It does not. In fact those almost certainly happened. But a genocide, even 'cultural'? No.
I read a comment recently of someone who lives near Xijang, and how the Uyghur's they know live and are treated. Basically, no real difference on the streets, but they do tend to get extra hassle from cops and guards when in sensitive areas like airports, border crossings, etc. Sucks, but livable.
I know some Uighurs and this kinda lines up with what they've said about their experience. The State treats them no different to any other Chinese, in fact they're probably advantaged by various affirmative action programs, but they've gotta be careful around cops. Racism from Han Chinese civilians is also quite common apparently, but ironically cops are their allies at that point to enforce the non-racist letter of the law.
It literally was just deradicalization. Does that mean some police abuse occured? Almost certainly, because that is inherent to any kind of policing culture. However, what is overwhelmingly verifiable from even Western media prior to the anti-China turn, was that the main targets of radical bombing aggression were primarily traditional, more moderate, Uighur mosques, who were resisting a more radical turn towards a Wahabist and Mujahideen informed ideology, not the Chinese state. The deradicalization campaign came much at the behest of these religious leaders, informed by fear of escalation from similar radical bombing campaigns that were occuring in Iraq, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan.
And unlike in those countries, China actually has the state capacity to respond to those constituent concerns in an ordered fashion that doesn't rely on paramilitaries. In particular, the main educational focus was on the historical place of women in Islam, and that the idea that the radical separation of women from public life was a departure from traditional Uighur practices, even prior to communism. There are more mosques in the Xinjang now than before communism, more now than before the deradicalization campaign.
Does that mean that there were no individual abuses of power, even some systemic corruption and bribery? It does not. In fact those almost certainly happened. But a genocide, even 'cultural'? No.
I read a comment recently of someone who lives near Xijang, and how the Uyghur's they know live and are treated. Basically, no real difference on the streets, but they do tend to get extra hassle from cops and guards when in sensitive areas like airports, border crossings, etc. Sucks, but livable.
I know some Uighurs and this kinda lines up with what they've said about their experience. The State treats them no different to any other Chinese, in fact they're probably advantaged by various affirmative action programs, but they've gotta be careful around cops. Racism from Han Chinese civilians is also quite common apparently, but ironically cops are their allies at that point to enforce the non-racist letter of the law.