Xinjiang raises human rights protections

Scholars have lauded the release of a book detailing human rights and legal protections in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region at its launch in Urumqi on Friday, highlighting its comprehensive and evidence-based account of recent advances across the region.

The blue book titled Report on the Legal Protection for Human Rights in Xinjiang (2024) was jointly compiled by Xinjiang University and Chongqing-based Southwest University of Political Science and Law. The blue book, first launched in 2023, is the second volume of this series.

According to Dai Bin, Party secretary of Xinjiang University, the blue book represents a "landmark academic achievement" in support of Xinjiang's human rights cause.

He said it used objective data, vivid case studies and detailed materials to document the region's practical progress.

"As an educator and researcher based in Xinjiang, I have witnessed firsthand how the rights to subsistence and development of all ethnic groups are being fully safeguarded here," Dai said.

He cited universal access to education, job security, cultural heritage protection, improved livelihoods and legal safeguards as "the most vivid and convincing reflection" of China's human rights efforts.

Zhang Jianjiang, Party secretary of Xinjiang University's Law School, said the report was the result of systematic, grassroots research conducted by scholars who had long lived and worked in Xinjiang.

The team gathered firsthand data and typical court cases from villages, communities, factories and schools across both the northern and southern parts of Xinjiang, she said.

The report analyzed legal safeguards in areas such as labor rights, education, religious freedom, health, environmental protection, and the preservation of traditional culture, she added.

"We want to show the world a true and comprehensive picture of Xinjiang's human rights protections under the rule of law," Zhang said.

Remina Xiaokaiti, deputy dean at Xinjiang University's School of Marxism, said Xinjiang built an "all-encompassing network" of legal protections for religious freedom.

"Under the rule of law, the right to religious freedom for all ethnic groups in Xinjiang has gained solid and visible guarantees," she said.

She noted that over the past five years, the country enhanced funding for the protection and renovation of religious sites, focusing on cultural relic preservation, safety improvements and infrastructure.

"The dual focus on improving facilities and standardizing practices has made religious activities safer and more orderly, giving worshippers greater peace of mind and direction," she said.

Contact the writers at lihongyang@chinadaily.com.cn