China condemns Turkey over claim of famed musician's death

BEIJING (AP) — Beijing on Monday condemned Turkey over its claim that a celebrated musician from China's Turkic Muslim Uighur ethnic group has died in custody, releasing a brief video clip that it said proved he was alive and in good health.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the video of Abdurehim Heyit issued by state media showed Turkey's statement was an "absurd lie."

"The Turkish side has made a very bad mistake which is quite irresponsible. We express firm opposition to this," Hua told reporters at a daily briefing. China has filed a formal complaint and called on Turkey to reveal the source of its information, Hua said.

Heyit had reportedly been sentenced to eight years over one of his songs. Hua said he had been taken in custody for endangering national security and his case was under investigation.

The dustup over Turkey's criticism contrasts with the close economic relationship between the two countries. Turkey depends on Chinese financing for major infrastructure projects, while China sees Turkey as an important link in its gargantuan Belt and Road project to expand its economic reach abroad.

Turkey's claim of Heyit's death came in a foreign ministry statement Saturday calling China's treatment of Uighurs "a great cause of shame for humanity" — a rare show of public criticism by a majority Muslim nation. China has interned an estimated 1 million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in re-education camps, where they are forced to renounce Islam and swear fealty to ruling Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.

Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said it was "no longer a secret" that China has arbitrarily detained more than a million Uighurs in "concentration camps." He said the Turkic Muslim population faced pressure and "systematic assimilation" in western China.

In the video released by state media outlet China Radio International, Heyit said he was being investigated for criminal activity, but was in good health and had "never been abused."

At the start of the video, Heyit states his name and gives the date as Feb. 10, 2019. The authenticity of the video could not be verified and it was not clear where and by whom it had been filmed.

However, Hua said that after checking with the "relevant department in Xinjiang," the ministry had confirmed the video's legitimacy.

Chinese state media have a long history of broadcasting confessions by both Chinese and foreign citizens who afterward say they were compelled to participate against their will and forced to read a script.

Although Turkey's criticism appeared without warning, Chinese diplomats responded with alacrity. The Chinese Embassy in Turkey swiftly issued a lengthy defense of Chinese policies, calling Aksoy's comments "completely unacceptable" and accusing Turkey of "maintaining double standards on the question of fighting terrorism."

Amid the clampdown, multitudes of Uighurs have fled, many traveling to Turkey, where the language and culture are similar to those in Xinjiang.

Chinese Kazakhs have also fled abroad to avoid arbitrary detention, and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on Monday said it was following the case of a one such man who had been fighting attempts by Beijing to return him to China from neighboring Uzbekistan.

A spokesman said Monday that the embassy was aware of Halemubieke Xiaheman's situation and was in close touch with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and "relevant governments" on his case.

Halemubieke had filmed a video from inside the transit zone at the airport in Uzbekistan's capital, pleading for help, saying the Chinese Embassy there wanted him sent back to China. It was distributed Thursday.

In response, the Uzbek foreign ministry issued a statement saying he flew to Bangkok on Saturday.