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Controversial Xinjiang training camps in fight against extremism

Kashgar, Apr 28 (EFE/EPA).- Mamatjan Akhat, a truck driver from China’s Xinjiang autonomous region, voluntarily joined a training camp after he realized he was influenced by extremist ideology.“I was infected with extremism. That is why I decided to go to a training center,” Akhat told EFE.At the center of controversy, Xinjiang has been the reason why the European Union agreed to impose sanctions on China for the first time in more than 30 years. (Camera: WU HONG/JAVIER GARCÍA).SHOT LIST: A RE-EDUCATIONAL CENTER IN KASHGAR AND ID KAH MOSQUE IN KASHGAR, XINJIANG, CHINASOUND BITES: MUSLIM UIGHUR MERCHANT, JIRAN GURSBEI; UIGHUR STUDENT, AIT AHAT AND SPOKESMAN FOR THE XINJIANG GOVERNMENT, XU GUIXIANG.TRANSLATIONS: 1. JIRAN GURSBEI, MUSLIM UIGHUR MERCHANT.We are free to believe or not believe. I'm not prohibited from practicing my religion. Perhaps now young people do not practice that much. It is not true that people are detained inside the internment camps as the Western media report. People did not live well 20 years ago but the situation has improved a lot now. 2. AIT AHAT, UIGHUR STUDENT."After finishing school, I want to learn new skill and that is why I come to this center.3. XU GUIXIANG, SPOKESMAN FOR THE XINJIANG GOVERNMENT.- Based on local regulations and laws, we do carry out religious activities to guarantee the freedoms and rights of the Muslim population in the best way possible.- For example, yesterday when we visited the school, some of you had the question about why religious activities are not carried out in the center. Perhaps they do in other Muslim countries but since China is a socialist country and we separate the religion from institutions. That is why we separate these activities from institutional centers.