BEIJING – Muslim leaders from the Xinjiang region rejected Western allegations that China is suppressing religious freedom, speaking at a reception Thursday for foreign diplomats and media at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The event was the latest in a series of moves by the Chinese government to counter accusations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
It came a day after human rights groups and Western nations demanded unfettered access for U.N. human rights experts to the region and U.S.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned China for “crimes against humanity and genocide against Muslim Uyghurs” during the release of an annual report on international religious freedom.