AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
ChineseauthoritieshavebeenconfiscatingpassportsofresidentsofnorthwestXinjiangprovince,claimingthemeasureservestocombatterrorism.
Theirconfiscatedpassportswillbeheldbypolice.
“Anyonewhoneedsthepassportmustapplytothepolicestation,”apoliceofficialtoldtheGlobalTimes,astate-fundednewspaper,onThursday.Butheassuredresidentsthatpeoplewithoutcriminalbackgroundswouldnotbeaffectedandwouldbeabletoeasilygettheirpassportsbackshouldtheyneedtotravel.
Anyonewithcriminalor”suspicious”records,however,maynotbeabletogoabroad,theGlobalTimesreported.
HumanRightsWatchcondemnedthenewpolicyinastatement,claimingthegovernmenthadnocrediblethreatonwhichtobaseit.
ManyoftheMuslimminorityinXinjiangsaytheyfacediscrimination.Newpoliciesaside,gettingapassportismoredifficultinXinjiangthaninotherpartsofChina,givenBeijing’santi-terrorismcampaignthere.
XinjianghasalargeMuslimpopulation.TheregionbordersPakistan,AfghanistanandnorthwesternIndiaandisseenasafrontinChina’sbattleagainstterrorismandreligiousextremism.
Source:Voice of America