China revises controversial anti-terror regulations 

China revises controversial anti-terror regulations 

News:

1. China’s Government revises anti-terrorism regulation by establishing vocational education centers to carry out the educational transformation of people who have been influenced by extremism.

Important Facts:

2. It is believed millions of people have been detained in extrajudicial detention centers in Xinjiang for religious extremism, separatism and terrorism.
3. The detentions have mostly focused on the region’s Muslim minorities, especially the Uighurs, a Turkic ethnic group.
4. Background of Anti-Terrorism law:

• In Dec 2015 China has passed controversial new anti-terrorism laws, saying they are needed to combat growing threats and has created a new anti-terror agency and security forces with significant powers.

5. Criticism against the Law

• Human rights groups say the laws are too broad and sweeping, and could be used to crackdown on dissidents as well as religious minorities.
• Amnesty International said in March, while the laws were still being drafted, that they have no safeguard to prevent those practicing their religion or criticise the government from being “persecuted on broad charges related to ‘terrorism’ or ‘extremism.”
• Human Rights Watch also said the laws are not in line with international standards, and pointed out that the new agencies would have “enormous discretionary powers”.

6. China has repeatedly said that it faces legitimate terror threats and that the laws are needed to combat them. It has also denied repressing Uighurs and other minorities
7. To tackle this, China’s local governments are encouraged to engage in “educational transformation” to teach Mandarin Chinese, legal concepts and vocational training, and carry out thought education.
8. Chinese authorities have confirmed to provide vocational and language training to people guilty of minor crimes.