We will not extradite Uighurs to China, says Minister

Last updated on May 17th, 2021 at 11:10 am

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will not entertain extradition request for Uighur refugees and will allow them safe passage should they feel that their safety is compromised, says minister.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yuso, said that the country respects the right of sovereign countries to manager their affairs.

Mohd Redzuan added that if there are Uighur refugees to went to the country for protection, they will not extradite them even if they are being demanded by the People’s Republic of China.

The Uighur refugees are allowed to have a safe passage to another country if they potentially face persecution.

The Chinese embassy in Kuala Lumpur did not responded to the statement.

In 2018, The country released 11 Uighurs from being detained to Turkey despite China’s request to extradite them.

The Chinese government criticized then-premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for denying the extradition and saying those released has done nothhing wrong in the country.

Mahathir later said that Malaysia was too small a country to take China head-on with the issue According to the data released by the United Nation, at least 1 million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims have been detained in what China normally calls “vocational training centers” to supress the extremism and provide people with new skills.