Imam Badi Ali from Greensboro, North Carolina, was one of
the most powerful speakers at the National Shoora of Jamaat
al-Muslimeen.
What transpired at the Shoora of Jamaat al-Muslimeen?
The National Shoora meeting on April 6 was full of surprises.
First came news that Br. Abu Talib had been attacked near
his home in Brooklyn, New York.
He was injured by, allegedly, a mental patient who fled.
Though injured in his face, Br. Abu Talib recovered within a
few hours and participated in the Shoora.
Br. Abu Talib
The next big surprise was that Sis. Nadrat Siddique hosted
and chaired the shoora meeting. She was efficient and in
control for the entitre four hours of the conference,
The third big surprise was a shocking report by Prof Firoz
Kamal from London, UK. on the
terrible suffering of the Muslim minority in Sri Lanka.
Few Muslims in America know of the tragic and cataclysmic
suffering of the peace-loving Muslims of Sri Lanka, an
Island nation just a little south of the southernmost tip of
India.
The core reality of Jamaat al-Muslimeen was presented by
Br. Salahuddin from Denver. He explained what is the
comprehensive message of Jamaat al-Muslimeen which makes it
different from other Muslim organizations which have
fragmented Islam. Here it is:
The Ummah: all Muslims, Men and Women.
Deen Above Nationality.
Trust and Brotherhood as Basis of Organization.
Freedom from Financial Control by governments.
Development of pure thoughts, honest action, honorable
motives.
Understanding of Qur'an and Sunnah as guidance for life.
National and International focus on Islamic solutions.
Women's role as equal partners in Islamic movement.
Different, but United.
"As for those who divide their religion and break up into
sects, thou hast no part in them in the least: their affair
is with Allah: He will in the end tell them the truth of all
that they did." - Qur'an 6:159
Sis. Aisha, the firebrand of the Jamaat, spoke on Malcolm X,
[al-Hajj Malik Shabazz]. She traced his development from
being a follower of Elijah Muhammad, through W.D. Muhammad,
who became a Sunni, to his emergence as the standard bearer
of Islam and leader of oppressed people, to his murder.
Owing to the martyrdom of Malcolm, millions have embraced
Islam in America.
Imam Badi Ali, leader of the biggest community of Muslims in
North Carolina, gave the most powerful presentation in the Shoora.
Taking the example of Prophet Yunus and the whale, he taught
self-criticism and progress even in the most difficult
circumstances. His eloquence in both Arabic and English was
way above that of Arab Islamic leaders in USA.
Br. Shoaib Qureshi, from England, gave a very thought
provoking message. Why are we always looking for perfection
and don't see that Allah sends someone to help his
messenger. Harun [Aaron ] was sent to help Musa, pbuh, who
had an impediment in his speech. Also when a second woman is
sent to help the first in financial transactions, why do we
attribute it to inferiority of women. Br. Shoaib helps
Muslims to think beyond conventional beliefs.
Sis. Ashira Nai'm, a founder of the Jamaat masjid in
Baltimore, urged the activists to bring Muslims into the
Jamaat. She was among the earliest in America to stand for
women's rights in Islam, had the courage to protest the
mistreatment of the Blind Shaykh, Dr. Abdel Rahman, and
pioneered charitable activities in Ethiopia through personal
visits.
Sis. Nadrat Siddique spoke on the latest situation of Dr.
Aafia Siddiqui and the dastardly role of the Pakistani
government which promised freedom for Aafia but actually
made sure she would not be released. Sis. Nadrat has
struggled and strived for the rights of political prisoners
in America, including the Blind Shaykh, Ahmed Abdel Sattar,
Imam Jamil and most distinctively for Aafia.
Imam Ali Siddiqui, a great Imam in his own right, spoke in
detail about the oncoming month of Ramadan and how to earn
the most blessings in this holy month. This imam is like an
encyclopedia of Islam and has written extensively on the
rights of women and for ways of contacting people of other
religions.
Also his research is getting published in New Trend.
Br. Abu Talib, from Trinidad, is Jamaat al-Muslimeen's link
for charities given to orphans and widows in Gambia, Senegal
and Ghana, He is also very active in the ;protests going on
in New York.
He sends a barrel of clothes, school requirements and basic
goods every month or second month to Africa.
[Alhamdulillah he has recovered from his injuries.]
Br. Kalem, from Baltimore's masjid Jamaat, spoke about his
recent visit to Tanzania. Of special interest was his visit
to an area where all the people are Muslims.
Sis. Khadija, from Baltimore, wrote about home schooling to
save our children from kafir influences, Her husband is an
imam in the prison system.
Br. Kaukab Siddique, from Pennsylvania, ameer of the
Jamaat, commented on and supported each of the speakers.
Br, Kaukab specifically spoke in support of all prisoners in
USA who are being humiliated. He exposed BBC propaganda
against Mozambique. He opposed million dollar mosques,and
explained Qur'an and hadith about the coming victory of
Islam in Palestine, Syria, Egypt and Makka, inshaAllah.
He urged opposition to Indian racism under Modi and
occupation of Kashmir.
Also why LGBTQ is being imposed on America without
discussion while the atrocity on Floyd is so long in being
brought to justice as if Floyd and not the police is on
trial.
There was a break for Maghrib salat.
The shoora ended with a du'a by Br. Salahuddin..
[Special thanks go to Br. Shaikh Hyder who has been very
generous but was unable to participate.]
[Thanks also go to Sis. Ayesha and Br. Ali in Virginia,]
Pakistan
JI voice
Apologize to the masses suffering from Broken promises and leave.
by Qaiser Sharif
LAHORE: April 7- Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq has asked
the government to seek apology from the masses and go home
if it is still unable to deliver.
Addressing a meeting of JI central leadership at Mansoora on
Wednesday, he said the prime minister must understand that
the making false promises and claims and keeping the masses
in darkness was not solution to the country's problems.
The government, he said, miserably failed to show any
performance in any filed in half of its tenure and if it
believed that it would pass the remaining period without
doing anything, it was not only deceiving itself but the
country.
The holy month of Ramzan was about the start and the prices
of basic food items were going up with every day passing, he
said, adding on one side people were dying because of crona
while on the other side the inflation and unemployment were
multiplying their troubles.
The former senator regretted the nexus of feudal lords and
imperialists had been looting the resources of the country
for decades, depriving the masses of basic facilities. He
said it was due to this evil nexus that poor man's kid was
not going to school and medical facilities to common man
were not available.
There was a dire need to get rid of the corrupt system, he
said, requesting the people to be part of the JI struggle to
put the country on track and bring a real change here. He
also warned the PTI that privatization of state institutions
on the direction of the IMF was not a solution to strengthen
the economy. He said the JI would launch GO-IMF-GO movement
if the rulers continued their pro-IMF and anti-masses
policies.
War News
Syria
April 4 to 9.
Daily routine of war.
We are fighting for our rights
in Syria. Shaykh Jolani, HTS leader.
Heavy artillery attacks by Assad and Iran continued all week
on the province of Irbid,
Russian bombing aimed at ISIS continued all week.
Syrians supporting Turkey clashed with Kurdish Communists in
north east Aleppo province.
In north central, Syria Turkey used artillery to help
Syrians advance against SDF Kurdish Communists but the
Syrians were stopped by heavy SDF fire.
In the south in Deraa province, the people are making life
difficult for the forces sent in by the dictator Assad.
Every day one or two Assad agents are killed or injured. The
people are not strong enough to push the regime forces
out.
In the east, ISIS has advanced into Hama province and has
kidnaped scores of Assad police and the civilians under
their protection.
ISIS is also raiding SDF posts along the southern Euphrates
and getting killed and killing SDF troops.
In the huge al-Hol refugee camp in north east Syria, with
more than 60,000 people, women supporting ISIS had taken
over. SDF sources said that ISIS women were intimidating the
others and a couple of refugees had been killed.
SOHR is reporting that a large SDF force entered the camp
and checked each tent. Finally, they claimed that they had
captured 5 ISIS agents, one of whom was a commander.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader Abu Muhammad al-Jolani has given
an important interview to a PBS journalist. He rebutted
propaganda against his group by the western powers. HTS is
the main force
in control of the province of Irbid which has frustrated
dictator Assad's efforts to crush the Islamic forces in
Irbid. America has put a huge bounty on his head, He pointed
out that HTS is fighting for Islamic Syrian rights and is
not fighting America and the West,
All the charges of terrorism by HTS are false, he reportedly
said.
[Previously known as al-Nusra, HTS separated from al-Qaida but
is still seen as terrorist by America and the West. Support
from Turkey has changed the situation in Syria and HTS has
repulsed
all attacks by Assad. However constant subversive attacks by
the enemies of HTS have created instability in Irbid.]
News Within the U.S.
An Important Appeal to our readers on India and Israel.
Jamaat al-Muslimeen urges
American Muslims to use all
peaceful means to reduce
the power of Israel in America.
The most effective method is to
boycott businesses which fund Israel.
Do you know that Nestle which sells water and other products
is deeply invested in Israel?
See the list of boycotted products on New Trend's web site.
[
boycott.htm
]
The boycott should be at a personal level. As a Muslim, it
is your [our] duty to stop funding Israel through the goods
we buy on a daily basis.
Also India is in close alliance with Israel. Many Indians from Gujrat
are not only supporting occupation of Kashmir but are also
deeply racist in their attitude towards Black people. Listen
to them when they talk to each other in their language. They
use the Gujrati equivalent of the N word,
Dear readers, be politically aware.
A Muslim is not a sufi type but an activist. Small efforts
for the cause can make a big difference.
Please make an effort to buy from Muslim and Black businesses,
Invitation to Think
France is Involved in International Hate against Islam.
April 9: Jamaat al-Muslimeen notes that France has now
extended its ban on hijab to minors. Now even children will
not be allowed to wear Hijab.
Do we remember Charlie Hebdo and the cartoons of the Prophet, pbuh.
All of France supported Israel and Chartlie Hebdo. So many
Muslims gave their lives to oppose the cartoons.
Millions of Muslims protested in African countries and in
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia against France and the cartoons.
The Muslim ummah is united against these blasphemous
cartoons.
Note that corrupt governments in Africa are supported by France.
In Mali alone there are 5000 French troops.
Imperialism has not ended.
Guidance by Sis. Yasmin.
Why I Shed The Bikini for Niqab.
[The New Symbol of Women's Liberation.]
By Sara Bokker
[Sara Bokker is a former actress/model/fitness instructor
and activist.]
I am an American woman who was born in the midst of
America's "Heartland." I grew up, just like any other girl,
being fixated with the glamour of life in "the big city."
Eventually, I moved to Florida and on to South Beach of
Miami, a hot spot for those seeking the "glamorous life."
Naturally, I did what most average
Western girls do.
I focused on my appearance and appeal,
basing my self-worth on how much attention
I got from others...!!!
I worked out religiously and became a personal trainer,
acquired an upscale waterfront residence, became a regular
"exhibiting" beach-goer and
was able to attain a "living-in-style" kind of life.
Years went by, only to realize that my scale of
self-fulfillment and happiness slid down the more I
progressed in my "feminine appeal."
I was a slave to fashion.
I was a hostage to my looks.
As the gap continued to progressively widen between my
self-fulfillment and lifestyle, I sought refuge in escapes
from alcohol and parties to meditation, activism, and
alternative religions, only to have the little gap widen to
what seemed like a valley. I eventually realized it all was
merely a pain killer rather than an effective remedy.
By now it was September 11, 2001. As I witnessed the ensuing
barrage on Islam, Islamic values and culture, and the
infamous declaration of the
"new crusade," I started to notice something called Islam.
Up until that point, all I had associated with Islam was
women covered
in "tents," wife beaters, harems,
and a world of terrorism.
As a feminist libertarian, and an activist who was pursuing
a better world for all, my path crossed with that of another
activist who was already at the lead of indiscriminately
furthering causes of reform and justice for all. I joined in
the ongoing campaigns of my new mentor which included,
at the time, election reform and civil rights,
among others.
Now my new activism was fundamentally different. Instead of
"selectively" advocating justice only to some, I learned
that ideals such as justice, freedom, and respect are meant
to be and are essentially universal, and that own good and
common good are not in conflict.
For the first time, I knew what
"all people are created equal" really means.
But most importantly,
I learned that it only takes faith to see the world
as one and to see the unity in creation.
One day I came across a book that is negatively stereotyped
in the West---
The Holy Qur'an.
I was first attracted by the style and approach of the
Qur'an, and then intrigued by its outlook
on existence, life, creation, and the relationship between
Creator and creation.
I found the Qur'an to be a very insightful address to heart
and soul without the need for an interpreter or pastor.
Eventually I hit a moment of truth: my new-found
self-fulfilling activism was nothing more than merely
embracing a faith called Islam where I could live in peace
as a "functional" Muslim.
I bought a beautiful long gown and head cover resembling the
Muslim woman's dress code and I walked down the same streets
and neighborhoods where only days earlier I had walked in my
shorts, bikini, or "elegant" western business attire.
Although the people, the faces, and the shops were all the
same, one thing was remarkably distinct--I was not--nor was
the peace at being
a woman I experienced for the very first time.
I felt as if the chains had been broken and
I was finally free...!!!
I was delighted with the new looks of wonder on people's
faces in place of the looks of a hunter watching his prey I
had once sought. Suddenly a weight had been lifted off my
shoulders.
I no longer spent all my time consumed with shopping,
makeup, getting my hair done, and working out. Finally, I
was free.
Of all places, I found my Islam at the heart of what some
call "the most scandalous place
on earth," which makes it all the more dear and special.
While content with Hijab I became curious about Niqab,
seeing an increasing number of Muslim women in it. I asked
my Muslim husband,
whom I married after I reverted to Islam,
whether I should wear Niqab or just settle for the Hijab I
was already wearing.
My husband simply advised me that he believes Hijab is
mandatory in Islam while Niqab is not.
At the time, my Hijab consisted of head scarf that covered
all my hair except for my face, and a loose long black gown
called "Abaya" that covered all my body from neck to toe.
A year-and-a-half passed, and I told my husband I wanted to
wear Niqab. My reason, this time, was that I felt it would
be more pleasing to Allah, the Creator, increasing my
feeling of peace at being more modest. He supported my
decision and took me to buy an "Isdaal," a loose black gown
that covers from head to toe, and Niqab, which covers all my
head and face except for my eyes.
Soon enough, news started breaking about politicians,
Vatican clergymen, libertarians, and so-called human rights
and freedom activists condemning Hijab at times, and Niqab
at others as being oppressive to women, an obstacle to
social integration, and more recently, as an Egyptian
official called it--"a sign of backwardness."
I find it to be a blatant hypocrisy when Western governments
and so-called human rights groups rush to defend woman's
rights when some governments impose a certain dress code on
women, yet such "freedom fighters" look the other way when
women are being deprived of their rights, work, and
education just because
they choose to exercise their right to wear
Niqab or Hijab.
Today, women in Hijab or Niqab are being increasingly barred
from work and education not only under totalitarian regimes
such as in Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt, but also in Western
democracies such as France, Holland, and Britain.
Today I am still a feminist,
but a Muslim feminist ~!
who calls on Muslim women to assume their responsibilities
in providing all the support they can for their husbands to
be good Muslims.
To raise their children as upright Muslims
so they may be beacons of light for all humanity once again.
To enjoin good--any good--
and to forbid evil--any evil.
To speak righteousness and
to speak up against all ills.
To fight for our right to wear Niqab or Hijab and to please
our Creator whichever way we chose. But just as importantly
to carry our experience with Niqab or Hijab to fellow women
who may never have had the chance to understand what wearing
Niqab or Hijab means to us and why do we, so dearly, embrace
it.
Most of the women I know wearing Niqab are Western reverts,
some of whom are not even married. Others wear Niqab without
full support of either family or surroundings.
What we all have in common is that it is the personal choice
of each and every one of us, which none of us is willing to
surrender.
Willingly or unwillingly, women are bombarded with styles of
"dressing-in-little-to-nothing" virtually in every means of
communication everywhere in the world.
As an ex non-Muslim, I insist on women's right to equally
know about Hijab, its virtues, and the peace and happiness
it brings to a woman's life as it did to mine.
Yesterday, the bikini was the symbol of my liberty, when in
actuality it only liberated me from
my spirituality and true value as a respectable human being.
I couldn't be happier to shed my bikini in South Beach and
the "glamorous" Western lifestyle to live in peace with my
Creator and enjoy living among fellow humans as a worthy
person. It is why I choose to wear 'Niqab', and why I will
die defending my inalienable right to wear it.
Today, 'Niqab' is the new symbol of woman's liberation.
To women who surrender to the ugly stereotype against the
Islamic modesty of Hijab...
I say...
You don't know what you are missing'.
[Sara Bokker is a former actress/model/fitness instructor
and activist.]
~'Salaams' to all
~ Y a s m i n ~
****************************************
Say, 'Indeed, my Prayer, my Rites of Sacrifice,
my Living and my Dying are for ALLAH, Lord of the Worlds'.
{'Quran'~Surat Al-'An'am -# 6-
Hadith of the Week
Love without Guidance is not the way to Allah.
From Sahih Muslim
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira, r.a. that
the Messenger of Allah said to his uncle at the time of his
death: Make a profession of it that there is no god but
Allah and I will bear testimony (of your being a Muslim) on
the Day of judgment. But he refused to do so. Then Allah
revealed this verse: " Verily thou canst not guide to the
right path whom thou Lovest. And it is Allah Who guideth
whom He will and He knoweth best who are the guided" (28
56).
(Book #001, Hadith #0037)
"Greed and faith are never combined in the heart of a servant."
(Sunan al-Nasā'i, Sahih)
Greed is the inventor of injustice. It makes man blind and
foolish, and makes him an easy prey for evil.
O Allah, make us among the generous and guide us to spend in
Your cause. Ameen.
As-slamu alaikum,
Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah said:
"This dunya (world) is like a shadow.
If you try to catch it, you will never be able to do so.
If you turn your back towards it, it has no choice but to
follow you."
A main cause of our worries is being disappointed by people,
events, and our own expectations.
But as long as you focus on the Hereafter, your worldly
affairs will be sorted out In-shaa-Allah!
So focus on the Hereafter and remember the actions you take
now determines what happens in the Hereafter.
O Allah, admit us into Jannah.
O Allah, admit us into Jannah.
O Allah, admit us into Jannah.
Ameen.
New Trend's web site.
Quite Impressive!
Our site received more than a million hits in the year 2020,
in fact about a million and a half.
To be exact:
1,455, 211 hits.
This year might be better, inshaAllah:
In March 2021 we received 65,399 hits.
Thanks Br. Rich for maintaining this site almost for free.
The site also has three translations of the Qur'an with the Arabic text.
[
quran.htm
]
Alsio it has Sahih Bukhari.
[
bukhari.htm
]
Our links support some political prisoners as well as some news channels.
[
links.htm
]
Fiinally there is Ken Meyercord's
interview with Kaukab Siddique in which he challenged Dr.
Siddique to answer the most outrageous attacks of western
media on Islamic "extremism.".
[
pictures.htm
]
[This listing does not include Muslims reached through
facebook and direct emailing.]
April 6.
Hamas is getting Ready.
Some Iranian help is getting through but mostly it is self-help.
Egypt is working with Israel.
[Courtesy Al-Monitor]
Rami Abu Zubaydah, a military expert who writes for Al
Jazeera, told Al-Monitor, "Hamas is constantly working to
obtain military and armament supplies, and is using every
opportunity to ensure an ongoing flow of weapons to [Gaza]
by sea and land. That is although it had begun in the past
years to rely heavily on itself. The majority of its
weapons, equipment and rockets are self-made weaponry, based
on a deliberate strategy to build and develop its military
strength, in light of the poor supply from abroad."
He noted, "Hamas continues to rely on Iran's capabilities
and expertise, as the movement sends its experts and
soldiers to receive training in Iran, although the Iranian
smuggling operations are exposable and subject to Israeli
attacks."
A report by Israel's Walla news site said March 20 that
al-Qassam Brigades has turned from unorganized divisions and
battalions to a quasi-regular army with a clear hierarchy.
It also highlighted Iran's financial aid and operational
military development, including the smuggling of massive
weapons into Gaza, and Hamas' efforts to manufacture new
weapons — be they drones or longer range missiles.
That would make the next military confrontation in the air,
at sea and on the ground different from the past ones and
puzzling, the report added.
Youssef al-Sharqawi, a Palestinian military expert and
military leader in the PLO, told Al-Monitor, "Iran's ongoing
support for Hamas points at its interest in boosting
military support for Gaza due to its proximity to Israel and
ability to inflict harm [on Israel] in case the latter
strikes Iran. Although the far distance separating Iran and
Gaza prevents [the latter] from receiving the largest
military supply, Israel and Egypt pursue any combat
equipment entering Gaza by land and sea."
He added, "It is inaccurate to say that Hamas' continued
access to Iranian military support would impact the ongoing
Fatah-Hamas national dialogue. Fatah is going through an
intrinsic crisis because it recognized Israel as legitimate
in the 1993 Oslo Accord and no longer speaks of the armed
resistance. Hence, a consensus between the two movements
will only be achieved in case of a security coordination
between Hamas and Israel. And that is far-fetched."
Hamas occasionally expresses gratitude for the military aid
provided by Iran since such support has allowed the movement
to survive the Israeli military operations in the past
years. In parallel, Hamas built its own military
capabilities and combat tools, without, however, allowing
such a progress to affect the national dialogue with Fatah,
which is less than happy about the Hamas-Iran relations.
April 9
Reuters Report on Chinese Communist attacks on Uyghurs
Living Overseas.
Erkin Tursun, a former TV producer whom officials said is
serving a 20-year sentence in Xinjiang, is seen speaking on
a video shown at a news conference on Xinjiang-related
issues, in Beijing, China April 9, 2021. Reuters TV/via
REUTERS
"I will try my best to change myself and receive the
leniency of the party and the government," says the man,
Erkin Tursun, a former TV producer who, the officials said,
is serving a 20-year sentence in Xinjiang on charges of
"inciting ethnic hatred, ethnic discrimination and covering
up crimes".
Tursun, almost unrecognisable from photos shared online
before his 2018 arrest, is addressing his son, who now lives
abroad and has publicly advocated against Tursun's
detention, which he says is arbitrary.
It was one of over half a dozen such segments showing
Uighurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority in the western
region, pleading with relatives abroad to come home and stop
speaking out against China and the ruling Communist
Party.
Such press conferences have become a staple of Beijing's
widening campaign to defend its Xinjiang policies amid
mounting Western criticism, including U.S. sanctions and
accusations of genocide, as Beijing prepares to host the
2022 Winter Olympics in February.
China for months has increasingly pushed back against global
criticism of its Xinjiang policies, including with explicit
attacks on women who have made claims of abuse.
Last month the United States, the European Union, Britain
and Canada imposed sanctions on Chinese officials over human
rights abuses in Xinjiang. China retaliated with its own
sanctions.
Some big Western brands like H&M, facing boycotts in China
over their previous statements on Xinjiang, are struggling
to strike a balance between consumers in the world's
second-largest economy and public opinion at home.
Beijing's propaganda campaign, which has included 11 media
briefings in the capital since December, has repeatedly
included efforts to discredit overseas Uighurs who speak to
media.
China has also conducted overseas press events, including
one this week in Canberra, released state media
documentaries and a musical movie, invited diplomats from
friendly countries including Iran, Malaysia and Russia to
visit Xinjiang, and promoted sympathetic foreign YouTubers
and news sites.
It has also targeted individual overseas think tank
analysts, journalists and academics with sanctions,
amplifying critical social media comments and aggressive
state media coverage.
Officials in China's Foreign Ministry and the Xinjiang
government say the efforts are necessary to counter "lies
and slander" released by a network of "anti-China forces"
abroad.
'DADDY, WHEN WILL YOU COME BACK?'
Uighurs living overseas have said videos of relatives, often
produced by Chinese state media outlets, are staged.
"The piece is basically pushing a narrative that it is us
Uighurs overseas who suddenly abandoned our families, which
is laughable," said Australia-based Mamutjan Abdurehim on
Twitter in March after a Chinese state broadcaster released
footage of his family in Kashgar.
On Friday, Chinese officials shared clips of Mamutjan's
daughter, sitting beside her grandparents.
"Daddy, when will you come back? We all miss you," she said.
United Nations experts and researchers estimate over a
million people, mostly Uighurs, have been detained in a vast
network of camps throughout Xinjiang since 2017. China
initially denied the camps existed but has since said they
are vocational centres and that all the people who had been
there have "graduated".
During Friday's event, officials took aim at databases set
up by overseas activists who have documented the names and
details of people caught up in China's camp system.
The officials said they had confirmed the identities of
10,708 people listed in the overseas databases but said over
1,300 people on the list were "completely made up," while
over 6,000 are living "normal lives."
The officials said 3,244 people listed on one database were
serving judicial sentences inside Xinjiang "for crimes of
endangering public security in Xinjiang, terrorism and other
crimes."
They said 238 had died of illnesses and other causes.
Overseas rights groups and some relatives of people detained
in Xinjiang say they have not been given details of their
relatives' whereabouts or sentences. Xinjiang courts do not
make public the vast majority of rulings or case
details.
Reporting by Cate Cadell; Editing by Tony Munroe and William Mallard
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
