Xinjiang training center grads refute rumors from West

Some graduates of Xinjiang's vocational education and training centers have spoken out about their real lives at the centers to refute rumors and slander from some Western media outlets.

Question 1: I would like to ask the graduated trainees to share their views on the vocational education and training centers and tell us if they were "tortured"? Some overseas media claim that "the trainees were forced to have kidney and liver removal operations, and female trainees were forced to be sterilized and to shave their hair", so have any of you been forced into such surgical removal operations? Are these claims true?

Answer: My name is Nurimangul Obulqasim, a graduate from the Vocational Education and Training Center of Hotan County, and I am now the director for women's affairs of Yapchaliq village, Langru township. As a graduated trainee, I think I am the most qualified to speak on what the center was like. When I first entered the center, I saw clean buildings, beautiful gardens and lawns, bright and spacious classrooms with each being equipped with multimedia teaching facilities, which greatly facilitated our study in class. The dormitories were also well equipped with TVs, electric fans and bathrooms.

At the center, we had six classes per day from Monday to Friday with courses on the country's common language, laws, vocational skills and deradicalization. We could contact our families and enjoy weekends as well as national legal holidays. When we went home on the weekend, we were free to attend lawful religious activities. Our after-class life was also very rich and colorful. We had a library, recreational room and interest-oriented classes, in which we were taught to dance and sing. We often organized sports and cultural activities like basketball, volleyball games and artistic performances.

There was a clinic at the center with doctors on duty 24 hours a day, so whenever we had a headache, cold or any other ailment, we could go to see a doctor. We received regular health checks at the center. Our customs and habits were fully respected there, and the school canteen provided us with various and nutritious halal food for free every day. There had never been any maltreatment or physical punishment at the center, let alone brutal torture. The teachers cared for us like our own families, and took very good care of us when we were ill. They also prepared delicious cakes and sent us their best wishes on our birthdays.

As for the claim of some Western media that "the trainees were forced to have kidney and liver removal operations, and female trainees were forced to be sterilized and to shave their hair", these are all rumors and slander. I have never had my kidney or liver removed and I am very healthy now. Those media have never been to any vocational education and training center, nor have they talked to us face to face. I don't know how they could make up such lies. That is so absurd.

To be honest, I've never been to any other school better than the vocational education and training center. I learned a lot during that time and received cordial care from my teachers there. I don't know what would happen if I hadn't attended the center. It is the center that saved me from the edge of a cliff through educating and rehabilitating me, and thus saved my family.