Anwar to question China on bullying of Muslims: Nikkei

PKR de-facto President Anwar Ibrahim told Nikkei Asian Review said he will query China on the detention of Muslim minorities, and urged Beijing to recognize ethnic Uighurs’ rights to religion and freedom of movement.

Anwar said he will likely get an update from Beijing about the mass detention of Uighur Muslims which came to light recently.

He told Nikkei Asian Review in an interview that he had in the past made known to China his position on the issue and officials in Beijing will use the occasion to explain their case.

“The concern is, of course, their rights to religion [and] movement,” said Anwar. “Our position is not to condone any form of violence, either by the society or the state.”

China has defended the actions with the worst comments indeed, saying the Muslims are happy with the colourful life they are getting from the prison bars.

Anwar is to meet Chinese Communist Party leaders next week in Beijing on the sidelines of a lecture at Renmin University of China.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently freed 11 ethnic Uighur Muslims in defiance of China’s call to extradite them to Beijing.

Dr Mahathir said the detained Uighur Chinese did nothing wrong. They were sent to Turkey, instead of China.

They were in detention since February and Dr Mahathir refused requests from China to hand them over to Beijing.

When asked if he supported the move, Anwar said, “If we find their case legitimate, we should assist them.”