Pope Francis Names Uyghur Minority Among Persecuted Peoples

In a notable address, Pope Francis highlighted the plight of the Uyghur minority in China, categorizing them among various persecuted groups worldwide. His statement included other marginalized communities such as the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, the Yazidi victims of ISIS, and Christians facing violence in Egypt and Pakistan. This acknowledgment by a prominent global leader brought attention to the ongoing human rights issues faced by the Uyghurs, who have been subjected to severe repression, including mass detentions, forced labor, and cultural erasure. The Chinese government has consistently denied these allegations, with officials like Zhao Lijian, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, asserting that the Pope's comments lacked factual basis. This exchange underscores the tension between international human rights advocacy and the Chinese government's stance on its internal policies regarding ethnic minorities.