World Bank ends funding to controversial Uighur schools in China

Following allegations at international level of mistreatment of minority Muslim Uighurs, the World Bank announced on November 11 that it was ending a project to fund vocational schools in China. A report claimed that a school that benefited from a tranche of the US$50 million loans to China bought barbed wire, gas launchers, and body armor. This was followed by a review ordered by the bank to see if the claims were correct. Another review was conducted following the recent allegations by several countries including the US in which the reports did not substantiate the allegations, informed the Washington-based development lender.

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In a media statement, World Bank said that in light of the risks associated with the partner schools, which are widely dispersed and difficult to monitor, the scope and footprint of the project are being reduced. Specifically, the project component that involves the partner schools in Xinjiang is being closed, it added.

Read: China And West Clash Over Claims Beijing Oppresses Uighurs

China is alleged of detaining Uighurs in Xinjiang

China has been heavily criticized by the international community for its alleged mistreatment of Muslim Uighurs who are a Turkic-speaking minority concentrated in the tightly-controlled northwestern Xinjiang region. More than one million mostly Muslim ethnic minorities have been interned in re-education camps in Xinjiang, where they are being tortured and forced to renounce their religion, claim several rights groups and experts. Though China earlier denied the oppression, later it said that set up 'vocational education centers' which it claimed were necessary to combat religious extremism. About five schools in the project will be funded by the World Bank despite its recent announcement. 

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US stands for Uighur human rights: UN ambassador

The US along with 22 other countries at the United Nations pushed China to stop the detention of Uighurs. British UN ambassador Karen Pierce delivered a joint statement to the 193-member UN General Assembly’s human rights committee on behalf of 23 states including the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden. “We call on the Chinese government to uphold its national laws and international obligations and commitments to respect human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, in Xinjiang and across China,” said Pierce. US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said that the US would stand for any country which violates human rights even if it is China. 

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