- 27 Aug 2020,\u00a016:21<\/li>
- Updated: 27 Aug 2020,\u00a016:34
https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/news\/12515673\/china-260-concentration-camps-million-uighur-muslims-satellite\/<\/a>
<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nSATELLITE images show that China has built 260 fortified prison camps capable of holding hundreds of thousands of Uighur Muslims in the last three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The revelations come after months of growing international condemnation over China’s<\/a> internment, indoctrination, and abuse of Uighur people across the Xinjiang province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Satellite](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/NINTCHDBPICT000604450369.jpg\")
<\/a>Satellite images show a network of suspected detention camps built by the Chinese government since 2017Credit: Google Earth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n ![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/NINTCHDBPICT000604450368.jpg\")
<\/a>An estimated 260 sites have been constructed across the Xinjiang province<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n ![\"Drone](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Screenshot-2020-08-27-at-16.08.17.png\")
<\/a>Drone footage that emerged last year is thought to show scores of Uighur being loaded onto trains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Up to 1.5million people are thought to have been detained in the province since 2017 as part of an attempt by the Chinese government to crack down on long-running separatist movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beijing claims the camps are “re-education” centres intended to tackle extremism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In December, officials claimed that all detainees had “graduated” and been allowed to return to their lives, but evidence suggests that the network of camps has remained populated and continued to expand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An investigation by Buzzfeed News<\/a> found that an estimated 260 sites have been purpose-built in the last three years, with at least one in almost every county of Xinjiang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The centres represent an escalation of the persecution of the Uighur, with detainees previously having been held chiefly in makeshift camps set up in disused schools and other public buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Satellite images show huge compounds surrounded by what Buzzfeed identified as guard posts and a layer of barbed wire on either side of a high wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Analysis of the images also suggested that some of the centres have the capacity to house at least 10,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drone footage that emerged in September of last year showed scores of shaven-headed and blindfolded people<\/a> kneeling in rows and surrounded by guards as they waited to be loaded onto a train.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Confronted with the footage during an appearance on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show last month, the Chinese ambassador to the UK said: “I do not know where you get this video tape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Sometimes you have a transfer of prisoners. In any country.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He went on to accuse Western intelligence agencies of making “false accusations” against China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accounts from Xinjiang suggest that even those Uighur who have not been detained are facing persecution and harassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reports have emerged of enforced sterilisations<\/a>, suppression of religious practices, and government officials forcibly moving into families’ homes to conduct surveillance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked last month whether he believed the treatment of the Uighur amounted to genocide, foreign secretary Dominic Raab said: “Whatever the legal label, it is clear that gross, egregious human rights abuses are going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/MB_OFF_PLATFORM_LIGHTNING.jpg?strip=all&w=300&h=192&crop=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
KID TRAGEDY <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ten children killed after being struck by lightning while playing football<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/CM-COMP-BANKSY.jpg?strip=all&w=300&h=192&crop=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
BANKSY BOAT SOS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Banksy migrant rescue boat stranded at sea & 1 dead after being overloaded<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/CM-COMP-MAN-KILLED.jpg?strip=all&w=300&h=192&crop=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
HORRIFIC DEATH<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Innocent\u2019 dad \u2018battered to death\u2019 by parents after girl \u2018lied\u2019 about abuse<\/a>EXCLUSIVE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BID BLOW<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Killer of honeymoon bride Anni Dewani has early release bid blocked by her family<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/as-comp-riots.jpg?strip=all&w=300&h=192&crop=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/VP-GRAPH-FRANCE-COVID-19-DAILY-CASES-28-AUG-2.jpg?strip=all&w=300&h=192&crop=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n