Fate of Uyghurs in Saudi Arabia hangs in balance

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 27

The price for friendship with China is paid by its Tibetan Buddhist and Muslim Uyghur communities with a similar story now being played out in Saudi Arabia. Reports say the Chinese Mission in Saudi Arabia is turning the screws on the Uyghur community living there by not renewing their passports in an attempt to force them back home.

The Chinese passport/visa card is played out in different forms. And it is particularly effective when used on its minorities living in countries such as Saudi Arabia. With no citizenship on offer in Saudi Arabia and the passports having expired, these Uyghurs are living in a grey zone. Those having expired passports are undocumented residents and can be deported. Uyghur human rights organisations contend that at least eight persons were deported to China and never heard of again.

Reports say the Chinese Missions have offered some Uyghurs carrying expired passports documents for flight back home, but the fate of those who were forced to return has made them wary.

Saudi Arabia and China have shown proximity ever since American dependence on Gulf oil began declining with its own production of shale oil. China has in the past sold armaments to Saudi Arabia and backed it during its period of difficulty after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Massive Chinese investments in Cambodia were preceded by a wave of deportation of Uyghurs. Thailand also deported over 100 Uyghurs in 2015 following which China began drawing plans to cut an alternative waterway near Malacca Straits.

The Chinese visa card is also played by pressuring countries not to permit the entry of Uyghur activists. China pressurises countries giving visas to exiled Uyghurs to attend conference — as is also the case with Tibetan Buddhists — failing which it applies pressure that only countries like Japan and the US can withstand.

The fate of the Uyghurs in Saudi Arabia with cancelled passports is in the balance while Riyadh weighs the choices.