Gov’t denies knowledge about Uyghur student, slams Amnesty for saying he disappeared at airport
Hong Kong Saturday criticized rights group Amnesty International’s accusation that a Uyghur student disappeared after being interrogated at the airport, and said that government records showed that he had not entered or been refused entry to the city.
Amnesty International said Friday that Abuduwaili Abudureheman, who was born in Xinjiang in western China, had traveled to Hong Kong from South Korea to visit a friend on May 10 but has since gone missing after he texted the friend about being interrogated after his arrival. He spent the last seven years studying in Seoul, completing a Ph.D. in sports and leisure in 2022, according to the group.
In a statement, the government strongly condemned Amnesty’s “groundless and unfounded remarks” as an attempt to smear it.
“In fact, the records of the HKSAR Government show that the person has not entered or been refused entry by Hong Kong,” the statement read, referring to the official name of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. “The organization deliberately attacked the HKSAR Government and slandered the human rights situation in Hong Kong without checking the fact.”
The government requested an apology from the group.
“While Abuduwaili remains missing, we will remain concerned for his safety. His friend who reached out to Amnesty International has still not been able to make contact with him after he sent a message saying he was being questioned by Chinese police at the time of his expected arrival in Hong Kong,” Amnesty replied to The Associated Press in response for seeking comment.
“If he had flown to Hong Kong from South Korea, there would be records of him boarding the plane,” said Nyrola Elima, an independent Uyghur researcher based in Sweden.
“If it is true that he did not enter Hong Kong, he would have let his closest friends know his whereabouts for the last two weeks,” Tahir Imin, a Washington, D.C.-based Uyghur academic and founder of the Uyghur Times, said.
“The statement from Hong Kong authorities is a blatant lie and attempt to avoid international criticism,” he said. ZEN SOO, HONG KONG, MDT/AP
