Beijing rounds up Muslims John Gittings in Shanghai Saturday March 23, 2002 The Guardian The Chinese authorities have detained thousands of Muslims in Xinjiang region in the north-west since September 11, claiming that local separatists are linked to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida, Amnesty International said yesterday. Some are reported to have been executed immediately after "public sentencing meetings". Quoting official sources, Amnesty says 8,000 Muslims were given "political education" courses. Some were arrested for using the Koran. The report coincides with an "anti-terrorist exhibition" in the regional capital, Urumqi. The exhibits include handguns, grenades, compasses and photographs of alleged...
