Zagreb Mufti visits Xinjiang amid Uyghur rights concerns

Aziz Hasanović, the Mufti of Zagreb, visited the Xinjiang region of China in mid-July following an invitation from the Chinese Embassy in Zagreb. The visit occurred amid ongoing international criticism and reports of human rights violations against the Uyghur Muslim minority.

The Chinese Embassy in Zagreb stated that Hasanović praised China’s efforts regarding counter-terrorism and deradicalization in the region. However, the Islamic Community of Croatia characterized the trip as an exchange of experiences and a dialogue with Chinese officials and Islamic institutions.

Speaking to Radio Free Europe, Hasanović noted that he engaged in dialogue with various parties and discussed the situation of the Uyghurs, though he did not provide specific details. He stated, “Nothing can be done without conversation. I have spoken with everyone and dialogue cannot bring anything bad.”

While China maintains that its facilities in Xinjiang are “vocational training centers,” human rights organizations have described them as concentration camps, alleging the political re-education of over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.