Home News HRW: Uyghurs face ‘severe restrictions’ despite travel policy changes

HRW: Uyghurs face ‘severe restrictions’ despite travel policy changes

China has loosened some travel restrictions on Uyghurs, yet continues to impose “severe restrictions, conditions and controls” on those seeking to go abroad or visit family in Xinjiang, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported Monday.

According to a report from HRW, while some Uyghurs have regained their passports and can apply for international travel, the Chinese government still enforces strict limitations. 

The United Nations has previously suggested that Beijing’s crackdown on Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang could amount to “crimes against humanity.”



Beijing denies the allegations, arguing that its policies in the region are aimed at combating extremism and promoting economic development, according to a report by Agence France-Presse.

Since the mid-2010s, Uyghurs with overseas ties have struggled to obtain travel documents, with many detained by authorities. 

HRW’s latest findings indicate a partial relaxation of travel restrictions, though the group maintains that these measures remain deeply repressive.

“The modest thaw… has allowed some Uyghurs to briefly reunite with loved ones abroad after having no news for years”, but the curbs are still used to “oppress” them, HRW China researcher Yalkun Uluyol said. 

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However, he noted that the remaining restrictions continue to serve as tools of “oppression.”

Uyghurs traveling abroad must disclose their reason for leaving, commit to returning within a specific timeframe, and promise not to criticize the Chinese government while overseas, HRW found. 

Family travel is rarely permitted, and returning individuals often face interrogation.

The report also highlights that Uyghurs holding foreign passports face long visa approval processes, questioning by authorities upon arrival, and, in some cases, restrictions on staying with relatives. 

Some have only been able to visit through government-run tours, which HRW claims present a state-controlled version of Xinjiang’s “progress.”

HRW based its findings on interviews with 23 Uyghurs living abroad and official Chinese government documents. 

The report also reiterates past allegations of mistreatment in Xinjiang’s detention facilities, including reports of forced labor, political indoctrination, and sexual violence.

China denies the accusations and says the facilities were voluntarily training centers that have been closed since attendees “graduated.”

The United States has labeled China’s actions against Uyghurs as genocide, while the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has warned that “problematic” policies persist in Xinjiang, raising concerns about potential crimes against humanity.

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