April 19, 2019 -- Beijing on Wednesday resolutely rejected allegations that it is pursuing an anti-Muslim policy in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and warned some international media to desist from spreading rumors by "cooking up stories."

 

"On your question, if China has an anti-Islam policy, I can assure you that there is no such thing," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said in response to a question on the subject by a journalist during a press conference in Beijing.

 

"Following policies that protect freedom of religious belief, China, like other countries, administers religious affairs in accordance with the law. We are resolute in rejecting and fighting religious extremism," he said, adding that "believers' normal religious activities are guaranteed in accordance with the law and their customs respected."

 

Lu also highlighted that there are currently "more than 350,000 mosques in China" in which the country's "20-million Muslim community are free to practice their religion in accordance with the law."

 

"We hope that the relevant media will be less enthusiastic about getting information by the grapevine. They should honor professional ethics instead of cooking up stories," he warned.

 

The Chinese official also objected to reference of "reeducation camps" in Xinjiang. "First of all, I need to correct you on what you referred to as 'reeducation camps.' I am not aware of any such 'camps' in China," Lu told reporters.