Syria says up to 5,000 Chinese Uighurs fighting in militant groups

[Urban hermit]

China may have a big problem when these knuckle draggers return

Up to 5,000 ethnic Uighurs from China’s violence-prone far western region of Xinjiang are fighting in various militant groups in Syria, the Syrian ambassador to China said on Monday, adding that Beijing should be extremely concerned about it.
China is worried that Uighurs, a mostly Muslim people who speak a Turkic language, have gone to Syria and Iraq to fight for militants there, having travelled illegally via Southeast Asia and Turkey.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the killing of a Chinese hostage in 2015, highlighting China’s concern about Uighurs it says are fighting in the Middle East.
Hundreds of people have been killed in Xinjiang in the past few years, most in unrest between Uighurs and ethnic majority Han Chinese. The government blames the unrest on Islamist militants who want a separate state called East Turkestan.
Syria’s ambassador in Beijing, Imad Moustapha, told Reuters on the sidelines of a business forum that while some of the Uighurs were fighting with Islamic State, most were fighting “under their own banner” to promote their separatist cause.
“Our estimated numbers, because of the numbers we fight against, we kill, we capture, we wound, would be around 4-5,000 Xinjiang jihadists,” he said. “China as well as every other country should be extremely concerned.”
Beijing has never given a number for how many Uighurs it believes are fighting in the Middle East, but has repeatedly warned they pose a serious threat to China. It is not possible to independently verify the number of Uighurs in Syria.
Rights groups and Uighur exiles say many Uighurs have fled to Turkey simply to escape Chinese repression at home, accusations Beijing denies.
Moustapha said China did not pick favourites with rebel groups, like Western countries, and China and Syria were cooperating to fight the threat.
“They don’t have a mixed message,” he said, referring to China.
“They understand the true nature of the ultra-Islamic jihadi doctrine of these groups. Yes, we do exchange information and a little bit more than information regarding these terrorist groups,” he said, without elaborating.
Right Time
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in an interview with the Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television in March, praised “crucial cooperation” between Syria and Chinese intelligence against Uighur militants. He said ties with China were “on the rise”.
Syria is trying to woo back Chinese investment, with a group of about 30 Syrian businessman meeting about 100 Chinese representatives over two days in Beijing.
Moustapha said he would be attending next week’s summit on China’s new Silk Road plan, which aims to expand links between Asia, Africa and Europe underpinned by billions of dollars in infrastructure investment.
Aboud Sarrouf, chairman of the Sarrouf Group and member of the Syria-China Business Council, said they were hoping to get Chinese investment to help repair war-damaged infrastructure.
“They are preparing and waiting for the right time. They are a little bit reluctant and hesitating,” he told Reuters, referring to Chinese companies.
“But we’re coming here to start preparing the foundation.”
Syria may have difficulty encouraging back Chinese companies.
Paul Liu, chief executive of Chinese steel products firm Sino Sources, said he wanted to hear about opportunities in Syria but was concerned about security.
“If the government thinks things are not dependable, then we’ll first plan and then execute later,” Liu said.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News...nt-groups.html

[Arnold J Rimmer]

China has a lot of problems with this muslim minorities.

[Urban hermit]

Originally Posted by Arnold J Rimmer

China has a lot of problems with this muslim minorities.

With such a large population it's a wonder they have kept a lid on things.

[Escape2Victory]

Originally Posted by Urban hermit

With such a large population it's a wonder they have kept a lid on things.

I would guess via what amounts to an army of occupation, extreme surveillance, with no regard for 'human rights' and deportation and scattering of groups who look like trouble.

[Stonewall_Jack]

Well Urban Helmet I have heard that China has banned the name Muhammad and Jihad or Jehad. And honestly I find that Mao would have been against such a move if its true...as we know sometimes the media likes to make things up.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/25/w...ihad.html?_r=0

You know btw I saw AJR said itt

China has a lot of problems with this muslim minorities.

Though it should say "its muslim minorities". This Muslim minorities is grammatically incorrect AJR. Just goes to show that known grammar nazis such as AJR can make mistakes,


That said imagine if I said

USA has a lot of problems with its Jewish minorities .

I say this because AJR has in such a nasty manner....falsely accused me of being "anti semitic" in a # of threads in the middle eastern section.

Hey Urban hermit when are you going to call out anti freedom of speech posters like AJR who claim to be for free speech but who infact insult or shout down any sort of opposing viewpoint?

[Stonewall_Jack]

Urban Hermit...did you read your entire link?

I say this because you are on record being critical of Assad and the Syrian gov yet your own link says,


Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in an interview with the Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television in March, praised “crucial cooperation” between Syria and Chinese intelligence against Uighur militants. He said ties with China were “on the rise”.


Your thoughts UH?

[Karri]

There were quite a few newspieces regarding these, and other similar minorities from the area. Not so much to do with them being moslems as them getting paid.

[Urban hermit]

Originally Posted by Stonewall_Jack

Urban Hermit...did you read your entire link?

I say this because you are on record being critical of Assad and the Syrian gov yet your own link says,


Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in an interview with the Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television in March, praised “crucial cooperation” between Syria and Chinese intelligence against Uighur militants. He said ties with China were “on the rise”.


Your thoughts UH?

What does my criticism of Assad have to do with anything?
I posted about the rising discontent of Islamist in China several years ago.

[Stonewall_Jack]

Originally Posted by Urban hermit

What does my criticism of Assad have to do with anything?
I posted about the rising discontent of Islamist in China several years ago.

The thread is about Syria and Chinese Uighur... The thread title says,

Syria says up to 5,000 Chinese Uighurs fighting in militant groups

I was thinking perhaps you changed your opinion on Assad...thats all.. I guess not.

Related,

“Our estimated numbers, because of the numbers we fight against, we kill, we capture, we wound, would be around 4-5,000 Xinjiang jihadists,” Imad Moustapha, the Syrian ambassador to China, told Reuters, “China as well as every other country should be extremely concerned.”

The combatants are reportedly Uighurs, members of a Muslim minority that primarily resides in Xinjiang Province. While some are fighting for the Islamic State, the majority are fighting “under their own banner” for a separatist cause. Located in Northwest China, Xinjiang is restless and prone to violence. Conflicts between the Uighurs and the Han majority are sometimes attributed to the Chinese government’s heavy-handed approach to regional tensions. The government, however, blames unrest on extremism and violent separatist movements, such as the East Turkistan Islamic Movement.

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the...ivil-war-20562

You also said in your op that ,

China may have a big problem when these knuckle draggers return

Well certainly I would agree that China should imprison anyone caught working with ISIL or an ISIL type group.

[Urban hermit]

Originally Posted by Stonewall_Jack

The thread is about Syria and Chinese Uighur... The thread title says,

Syria says up to 5,000 Chinese Uighurs fighting in militant groups

I was thinking perhaps you changed your opinion on Assad...thats all.. I guess not.

Related,

“Our estimated numbers, because of the numbers we fight against, we kill, we capture, we wound, would be around 4-5,000 Xinjiang jihadists,” Imad Moustapha, the Syrian ambassador to China, told Reuters, “China as well as every other country should be extremely concerned.”

The combatants are reportedly Uighurs, members of a Muslim minority that primarily resides in Xinjiang Province. While some are fighting for the Islamic State, the majority are fighting “under their own banner” for a separatist cause. Located in Northwest China, Xinjiang is restless and prone to violence. Conflicts between the Uighurs and the Han majority are sometimes attributed to the Chinese government’s heavy-handed approach to regional tensions. The government, however, blames unrest on extremism and violent separatist movements, such as the East Turkistan Islamic Movement.

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the...ivil-war-20562

You also said in your op that ,

China may have a big problem when these knuckle draggers return

Well certainly I would agree that China should imprison anyone caught working with ISIL or an ISIL type group.

Radical Islamist threatens world peace, the world invludes China.
A few years ago when ISIS first appeared, I stated in many posts that they would become a greater threat than al Qaida or the Taliban. Most responses were not kind to me, I was hysterical, I was a 'Sky is falling' nutjob etc.
Then I was told that ISIS was just a local, regional threat, they would never be a problem outside of a small area in Iraq and Syria.
Today they are active in Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, their supporters have carried out attacks in European cities and around the world, they have support from people in China the US, Canada, GB, Russia, Egypt/North Africa.
They threaten all of the Middle East.
And yes, I criticize Assad. And Iran, and I was harsh on Obama.
I hope the world leaders actually do something about radical Islamist in all forms and especially ISIS, the MB and address Irans support of these groups,
I will continue to bitch and moan about it....

[Bwaha]

Originally Posted by Urban hermit

Radical Islamist threatens world peace, the world invludes China.
A few years ago when ISIS first appeared, I stated in many posts that they would become a greater threat than al Qaida or the Taliban. Most responses were not kind to me, I was hysterical, I was a 'Sky is falling' nutjob etc.
Then I was told that ISIS was just a local, regional threat, they would never be a problem outside of a small area in Iraq and Syria.
Today they are active in Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, their supporters have carried out attacks in European cities and around the world, they have support from people in China the US, Canada, GB, Russia, Egypt/North Africa.
They threaten all of the Middle East.
And yes, I criticize Assad. And Iran, and I was harsh on Obama.
I hope the world leaders actually do something about radical Islamist in all forms and especially ISIS, the MB and address Irans support of these groups,
I will continue to bitch and moan about it....

I think the reason that they went to Syria is for training. Also being a radical in China is a fast path to pushing up daises...

[Urban hermit]

Originally Posted by Bwaha

I think the reason that they went to Syria is for training. Also being a radical in China is a fast path to pushing up daises...

The nail that sticks up will be hammered down syndrome.

[Stonewall_Jack]

Originally Posted by Urban hermit

Radical Islamist threatens world peace, the world invludes China.
A few years ago when ISIS first appeared, I stated in many posts that they would become a greater threat than al Qaida or the Taliban. Most responses were not kind to me, I was hysterical, I was a 'Sky is falling' nutjob etc.
Then I was told that ISIS was just a local, regional threat, they would never be a problem outside of a small area in Iraq and Syria.
Today they are active in Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, their supporters have carried out attacks in European cities and around the world, they have support from people in China the US, Canada, GB, Russia, Egypt/North Africa.
They threaten all of the Middle East.
And yes, I criticize Assad. And Iran, and I was harsh on Obama.
I hope the world leaders actually do something about radical Islamist in all forms and especially ISIS, the MB and address Irans support of these groups,
I will continue to bitch and moan about it....

Well perhaps the USA should work with Syria and Iran and actually once and for all defeat ISIL. How is it that a legit Army ie the Iraqi army under Saddam Hussein was defeated in 3 weeks....where as this stain of a group ISIL which lacks an air force...is still around after 3 plus years!....

If you look at the Syrian Arab Army, Iraqi army and even elements from Iran..these are the folks fighting ISIL and as you were mocked and derided for warning about ISIL...well the Muslims whom take the Jihad to ISIL are often mocked and derided by the media outlets while if you look at social media the American people have a different pov..many Americans and other folks with English/Euro names all over social media have thanked Syrians, Iranians and Iraqis for fighting ISIL. Already the USA is allied with Iraq against ISIL...it certainly is something to consider for us to work something out with Iran and Syria. In short there is no excuse for ISIL still being around, not with great militaries all around the world...as you said ISIL has attacked numerous nations and those nations need to utilize there militaries to eliminate ISIL.

[Snowygerry]

Originally Posted by Stonewall_Jack

Well perhaps the USA should work with Syria and Iran and actually once and for all defeat ISIL. How is it that a legit Army ie the Iraqi army under Saddam Hussein was defeated in 3 weeks....where as this stain of a group ISIL which lacks an air force...is still around after 3 plus years!....

They are very useful to a number of parties in this conflict.

Without IS Assad would be gone - for instance, but others as well.