Switzerland summons Chinese ambassador following UN report on Uyghur Muslims

Switzerland summoned the Chinese ambassador this week over concerns about Beijing’s treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority. The meeting follows the release of a report by the United Nations human rights division regarding China’s treatment of the minority in Xinjiang.

The Swiss foreign ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador Thursday to relay its concerns over the human rights situation with Uyghur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province. The ministry cited the report issued by the UN human rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet, finding the detention of the Muslim minority group to be equal to crimes against humanity.

“Switzerland is convinced that the best way to safeguard its interests and the respect of fundamental rights is to conduct a critical and constructive dialogue with Beijing,” said the ministry.

The Chinese foreign ministry has denied the allegations in the UN report, calling the claims “illegal and void.” Beijing has also denied allegations of mistreatment toward the ethnic minority.

China initially denied the existence of detention facilities but later said they were vocational skills training centers that were necessary to address “extremism” among the Uyghurs, who have a different religion, language and culture from China’s majority Han ethnic group.

Uyghurs have also come forward, saying that they faced abuses such as forced sterilization, family separation and humiliation, forced to eat pork, or living with Han Chinese family “minders.”

Uyghurs are also widely believed to be victims of forced labor in Xinjiang’s cotton industry.

Last week, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he hoped China would take into account the recommendations by the HRC.

Stephane Dujarric told reporters that the report issued by Bachelet on the matter “confirms what the secretary-general has been saying on Xinjiang for quite some time, that human rights must be respected and that the Uyghur community need to be respected.”

Dujarric also said that Guterres was “concerned” over what the report found.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the UN’s report of its findings. Washington has described the treatment by Beijing of its Muslim minorities as “genocide.”

“This report deepens and reaffirms our grave concern regarding the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity that PRC government authorities are perpetrating against Uyghurs,” said Blinken in a statement.