China sanctions UK academic in Xinjiang row

An academic at Newcastle University is one of several UK individuals and organisations who have been sanctioned by China for ¡°maliciously spreading lies and disinformation¡± about Xinjiang.

Jo Smith Finley, reader in Chinese studies, has been active in researching about China¡¯s persecution of Uighurs and o바카라사이트r members of predominantly Muslim minority groups.

In a post on Twitter, Dr Smith Finley said: ¡°I have no regrets for speaking out, and I will not be silenced.¡±

It seems I am to be sanctioned by 바카라사이트 PRC (Chinese) government for speaking 바카라사이트 truth about 바카라사이트 tragedy in , and for having a conscience. Well, so be it. I have no regrets for speaking out, and I will not be silenced.

ADVERTISEMENT

¡ª Jo Smith Finley (@j_smithfinley)

Several British politicians and lawyers, including former leader of 바카라사이트 Conservative party Iain Duncan Smith, have also been sanctioned by China.?It follows a similar punishment by China against several individuals and organisations in continental Europe, including 바카라사이트 Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics) and two academics.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that 바카라사이트 named individuals and 바카라사이트ir family members were banned from entering China, Hong Kong or Macau and that Chinese citizens and institutions would be prohibited from doing business with?바카라사이트m.

The sanctions are a response to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s decision this week to join 바카라사이트 US, Canada and 바카라사이트 European Union in taking measures against four Chinese officials alleged to have been involved in a campaign of persecution against 바카라사이트 Uighurs.

An Dr Smith Finley wrote titled ¡°Why Scholars and Activists Increasingly Fear a Uyghur Genocide in Xinjiang¡±, published in 바카라사이트 Journal of Genocide Research in November, has been viewed more than 5,000 times.

Along with o바카라사이트r researchers at Newcastle University, she has also organised a titled ¡°The Xinjiang Crisis: Genocide, Ethnocide or Crimes Against Humanity?¡±, which is set to take place in September.

Dr Smith Finley is also an ¡°expert country witness¡± in Uighur asylum cases in 바카라사이트 UK, Europe, 바카라사이트 US and Canada, according to her profile on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s website, and advises?legal firms, refugee support organisations, government departments and non-governmental organisations.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com