1. SAGE Lecture Spark
[2/26/19]
The Publisher of the Social Sciences

2. Rights Groups Seek U.N. Inquiry into China’s Mass Detention of Muslims
“Human rights groups called on Monday for a United Nations investigation into China’s mass detention of Muslims in the western region of Xinjiang, seeking [a] response to allegations of widespread abuses.”
“‘Xinjiang has become an open-air prison — a place where Orwellian high-tech surveillance, political indoctrination, forced cultural assimilation, arbitrary arrests and disappearances have turned ethnic minorities into strangers in their own land,’ Kumi Naidoo, secretary-general of Amnesty International, said in a video statement.”

3. The Mystery of a Muslim Poet at the Center of a Diplomatic Crisis between China and Turkey
“Turkey [recently called] China's persecution of its Uighur Muslim minority ‘a great shame for humanity.’ The statement came after the reported death of a prominent Uighur poet, who the Turkish foreign ministry said had died in a Chinese detention camp in the western region of Xinjiang.”
“China responded by publishing a video appearing to show the poet, Abdurehim Heyit, saying that he is alive. But the video's visuals and audio don't seem to match up.”

4. China Suddenly Takes BBC News off Air after Muslim Detention Camps Mentioned
“China censored a TV report about its detention of more than a million Uighur Muslims in ‘re-education camps’ by suddenly cutting off the broadcast, according to a BBC reporter.”
Stephen McDonell, “the BBC’s China correspondent, said a similar thing happened the previous day during discussion of the same issue.”

5. Map Shows Trillion Dollar Reason Why China Oppressing More than a Million Muslims
“China is assembling a massive trade project — the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — which aims to connect the country with new infrastructure. Many of these projects pass through Xinjiang, a region in western China home to the beleaguered Uighur Muslim people.”
“Beijing has been cracking down on Uighur life in on Xinjiang. Officials say its repression is a necessary counter-terror operation, but experts say it's actually to protect their BRI projects.”

6. Key Concepts
Censorship in the Media: Chinese Muslim Detention Camps
China’s censorship is beginning to resemble Orwell’s 1984.
Thankfully here in our Western media, we can still keep abreast of issues like the detention of particular religious groups abroad. In China, most of the public is likely unaware.

7. Assessment
Writing: In China, religious organizations are only legal if registered and regulated. Only 5 religions are sanctioned by the country. In addition, the official Communist Party policy is atheism. Does this constitute a separation of Church and State?
Debate: As explored above, the official state party of China is atheist and religions are highly regulated. Do you feel there are moral, ethical, or other concerns with their approach to religion? Why or why not?
Poll: Had you heard about the detention of Muslims in China before now?
Yes, No, Unsure
Short Answer: Does the placing of Muslims in camps resemble another historical event to you? Which one, and why?
Current Events Quiz
Human rights groups have called for an investigation from _______ into the events in China.
Kumi Naidoo, secretary-general of Amnesty International, made an allusion to which author in describing the conditions in the Chinese detention camps?
Turkey recently made a statement about the camps, calling them a ____.
Evidence of missing poet Abdurehim Heyit being safe appears to:
Some have accused China of persecuting Muslim groups to accomplish progress with their trade project, the _____.
Answers
The United Nations
George Orwell
Great shame to humanity
Not match up
5. Belt and Road Initiative

8.
Is China An Atheist Country? How Strict Are China’s Censorship Laws?

9.
Muslim woman describes torture and beatings in China detention camp: ‘I begged them to kill me’.