Why Some Muslim-Majority Nations Stay Silent on China's Treatment of Uyghur Muslims While Criticizing the West
The United States has faced criticism in some quarters for designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged violations of religious freedom, particularly concerning attacks on Christians. However, a broader look at global religious freedom issues reveals that China has also been repeatedly designated by the U.S. government as a Country of Particular Concern for its treatment of several religious communities, including Muslims.
One of the world's most scrutinized human rights issues is the treatment of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur population and other Turkic Muslim minorities in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Over the past decade, reports by the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, independent researchers, and several governments have documented allegations that include the mass detention of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in facilities described by China as "vocational education and training centers." Other reported concerns include extensive surveillance through facial recognition technology and phone monitoring, restrictions on religious practices such as fasting during Ramadan and Islamic education, allegations of forced labour, coercive birth-control measures affecting Uyghur women, and the destruction or alteration of mosques, shrines, and other Islamic cultural sites.
In 2022, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded that the scale of arbitrary detention and other abuses in Xinjiang "may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity."
China firmly rejects these allegations. Beijing maintains that its policies are legitimate counterterrorism, anti-extremism, and anti-separatism measures aimed at ensuring stability and economic development. Chinese authorities also state that the vocational training centres have been closed and that living conditions in Xinjiang have improved.
It is important to note that not all Muslims in China experience the same level of restrictions. China is home to an estimated 20–25 million Muslims from several ethnic groups, including the Hui, Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and others. Most international criticism has focused specifically on Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, while Hui Muslims have generally experienced fewer restrictions, although religious regulation has increased in some areas.
One question frequently asked is why influential Muslim-majority countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia have generally avoided publicly condemning China's treatment of Uyghurs.
Analysts point to several reasons. The first is economic interest. China is one of the largest buyers of oil from both Saudi Arabia and Iran and remains a vital trade and investment partner. Governments often place strategic economic relationships above public criticism of allies.
Secondly, geopolitics plays a major role. Iran depends heavily on China for diplomatic and economic support, particularly in the face of Western sanctions. Saudi Arabia has also strengthened cooperation with Beijing in energy, infrastructure, technology, and investment. China's role in facilitating the 2023 restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran further increased its influence across the Middle East.
Another factor is the principle of non-interference. China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and several other countries consistently maintain that governments should avoid interfering in the domestic affairs of sovereign states. This principle frequently shapes their responses to international human rights concerns.
Political considerations also matter. Governments facing criticism over their own human rights records may be reluctant to publicly condemn another country's domestic policies, knowing similar scrutiny could be directed toward themselves.
This diplomatic approach is not unique to Iran and Saudi Arabia. In 2019, dozens of countries, including several Muslim-majority nations, signed a letter at the United Nations supporting China's policies in Xinjiang, while another coalition of countries condemned them.
There have also been credible reports from former detainees alleging that some Uyghur Muslims in detention facilities were compelled to consume pork or alcohol despite their religious beliefs. Human rights organisations, journalists, and bodies such as the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom have documented such testimonies. However, these reports relate to specific detention settings and do not establish that all Muslims in China are routinely forced to eat pork or drink alcohol. China denies these allegations, describing them as false.
The United States' designation of China as a Country of Particular Concern extends beyond the treatment of Muslims. U.S. religious freedom reports also cite concerns over restrictions affecting Tibetan Buddhists, Christians worshipping in unregistered churches, Falun Gong practitioners, and other religious communities.
Ultimately, the situation remains highly contested. There is broad international documentation alleging serious human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, while the Chinese government continues to reject those allegations and insists its actions are lawful security measures. The issue remains one of the world's most closely watched and debated human rights concerns.
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