Multiple foreign governments have accused China of genocide in the Xinjiang region. In this context, genocide refers to deliberate acts “attempting, in whole or in part, to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group (Jensen)”. In addition to re-education camps that attempt to violently eradicate Uyghur customs and cultural traditions, the Chinese government has also practiced mass sterilization of Uyghur women and separated children from their families. The Chinese government maintains tight controls on the Uyghur population, declaring that anyone with more than three children will be imprisoned. All these actions are violations of human rights.
In addition, members of the Uyghur community outside the detention centers were closely monitored and severely restricted. The central government has demolished thousands of mosques, suggesting the structures were improperly constructed and unsafe for worshipers. Religious practices such as fasting during Ramadan are banned and seen as extremist, while parents are banned from giving babies specific Islamic names. Although the Chinese government recognizes Islam as the legal religion in the country, it continues to campaign against Islam in an attempt to push members of the Uyghur community toward atheism.