These Uyghurites were inside Afghanistan in 2001; Pak troops captured them and handed them over to the US, which shifted them to the military prison at Guantanamo Bay.

After President Obama ordered the closure of Guantanamo Bay prison, more than 100 countries were approached to these ill-fated people as refugees but none has agreed. Lawyer, Sabin Willett, who represents their case, has blamed Washington with ‘incorrectly’ describing them as terrorists.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson has strongly warned (Feb 5, 2009) against any country accepting Uiyghur terrorists held at the Military Prison. He asked the US to return them to China ‘when the prison is closed’. All sides should respect international law and principles, the spokesman said.  

Canada, in the meantime, appears inclined to consider at least three requests for political asylum, according to a member of the Uyghur Canadian Association. ‘Three Uyghur Chinese detainees have applied for asylum. Authorities are considering (them)’, he said. There is no official word as yet but the Canadian immigration authorities are quoted as saying ‘A permanent resident of foreign country will not be admitted if there is reason to believe they had engaged or would engage in acts of terrorism’.

Chinese authorities have restricted the movement of their Uyghurs outside China; they have practically stopped issuing passports to them, while stepping up a watch on those who possess passports and visas.  Schools have also come under new restrictions. Most schools in the Xinxiang province are being made to adopt Mandarin as their working language.