UN Commissioner for Human Rights: China restricts people's basic rights on the grounds of national security and anti-epidemic

Instant International

Author: Wang Zhonghui

2021-02-27 01:30

Last update date: 2021-02-27 01:31

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet stated on February 26 that China is restricting the basic civil and political freedoms of the people on the grounds of national security and response to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.

Bachelet attended a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on the 26th, saying that there are activists and lawyers in China, as well as foreign citizens, who have been arbitrarily prosecuted, detained or unfairly interrogated by the authorities.

She also mentioned that more than 600 citizens in Hong Kong have been investigated for participating in demonstrations, and some of them have even faced violations of the Hong Kong National Security Law.

However, the Secretary of Justice Zheng Ruohua who attended the meeting pointed out that since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, social unrest has decreased, and citizens can still continue to enjoy legal freedom.

In addition, Bachelet also mentioned the issue of Xinjiang Uyghurs, saying that based on multiple reports on arbitrary detention, forced labor, sexual violence and abuse in the local area, she believes it is necessary to conduct an in-depth and independent investigation, and hopes to inspect the local area. Reached an agreement with Beijing.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 24th that Beijing had long invited Bachelet to visit Xinjiang, and the two sides have been in communication.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated that the door to Xinjiang is always open and welcomes the visit of the UN Human Rights Commissioner to Xinjiang.

The last visit to China by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights dates back to 2005, when Louise Arbour visited China in September of that year.

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