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| Six British tourists detained for 'terror links'are expelled from China | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Six of the nine British nationals detained in China on suspicion of links to a “terror group” have been expelled from the country, according to diplomats in Beijing. | |
| The Britons were part of a 20-strong group of tourists, including South African and Indian citizens, taken into custody by police in Inner Mongolia last Friday morning during a 47-day visit to China. | The Britons were part of a 20-strong group of tourists, including South African and Indian citizens, taken into custody by police in Inner Mongolia last Friday morning during a 47-day visit to China. |
| Chinese authorities have not yet offered an official explanation for the detentions. | Chinese authorities have not yet offered an official explanation for the detentions. |
| However, Gift of the Givers, the South African faith-based charity to which the tourists belonged, said police had accused its members of links to a “terror group” and of watching banned videos in their hotel room. | However, Gift of the Givers, the South African faith-based charity to which the tourists belonged, said police had accused its members of links to a “terror group” and of watching banned videos in their hotel room. |
| The group’s founder, Imtiaz Sooliman, told one South African website that the tourists were “likely watching videos of Islamic prayers” during Ramadan and rejected any “terror links”. | The group’s founder, Imtiaz Sooliman, told one South African website that the tourists were “likely watching videos of Islamic prayers” during Ramadan and rejected any “terror links”. |
| The Pietermaritzburg aid group describes itself as “the largest disaster response NGO of African origin on the African continent”. | The Pietermaritzburg aid group describes itself as “the largest disaster response NGO of African origin on the African continent”. |
| Its website says it was founded in 1992 and is inspired by Muhammed Saffer Effendi al Jerrahi, a master of Sufism, a mystical form of Islam, AFP reports. | Its website says it was founded in 1992 and is inspired by Muhammed Saffer Effendi al Jerrahi, a master of Sufism, a mystical form of Islam, AFP reports. |
| “We serve ALL people irrespective of race, religion, culture, colour, political affiliation or geographical location, unconditionally,” the website says. | “We serve ALL people irrespective of race, religion, culture, colour, political affiliation or geographical location, unconditionally,” the website says. |
| As well as performing charity work in dozens of developing countries including Haiti, the Philippines, Iraq and Nepal, the group has been involved in negotiations for the release of hostages. | As well as performing charity work in dozens of developing countries including Haiti, the Philippines, Iraq and Nepal, the group has been involved in negotiations for the release of hostages. |
| Among those it has tried to release was Pierre Korkie, a South African teacher who was killed in Yemen last year alongside the British-born photojournalist Luke Somers. The two were being held by al-Qaida in Yemen and died during an attempted rescue operation by US special forces. | Among those it has tried to release was Pierre Korkie, a South African teacher who was killed in Yemen last year alongside the British-born photojournalist Luke Somers. The two were being held by al-Qaida in Yemen and died during an attempted rescue operation by US special forces. |
| After its members were detained in the Chinese city of Ordos, the group posted a statement on its official Facebook page. | After its members were detained in the Chinese city of Ordos, the group posted a statement on its official Facebook page. |
| It claimed the tourists’ mobile phones had been confiscated by police and that they had spent 48 hours without access to communications or lawyers. | It claimed the tourists’ mobile phones had been confiscated by police and that they had spent 48 hours without access to communications or lawyers. |
| Security officials initially gave no reason for the detentions but eventually “suggested that some members were linked to a terror group, to a banned organisation, to watching propaganda videos in their hotel room”, it added. | Security officials initially gave no reason for the detentions but eventually “suggested that some members were linked to a terror group, to a banned organisation, to watching propaganda videos in their hotel room”, it added. |
| By Tuesday authorities had agreed to released 11 of the 20 tourists, whose tour was reportedly organised by a Chinese firm called China Odyssey Tours, the charity said. | By Tuesday authorities had agreed to released 11 of the 20 tourists, whose tour was reportedly organised by a Chinese firm called China Odyssey Tours, the charity said. |
| The remaining nine – five South Africans, three Britons and one Indian national – were still being held. | The remaining nine – five South Africans, three Britons and one Indian national – were still being held. |
| Those detained include Hoosain Ismail Jacobs, a 74-year-old former anti-apartheid activist who had lived in exile in Britain for more than 25 years, and Dr Feroz Suliman, a surgeon at the Waterfall hospital in the South African city of Midrand. | Those detained include Hoosain Ismail Jacobs, a 74-year-old former anti-apartheid activist who had lived in exile in Britain for more than 25 years, and Dr Feroz Suliman, a surgeon at the Waterfall hospital in the South African city of Midrand. |
| The precise motive for the detentions remained a mystery on Wednesday. | The precise motive for the detentions remained a mystery on Wednesday. |
| A police propaganda officer in Ordos said he had no details. | A police propaganda officer in Ordos said he had no details. |
| “I saw the news,” said the official, who gave his surname as Luo. “However, before I can give you further information, I need to find out about what has happened myself. I can only tell you what happened when I have the information. | “I saw the news,” said the official, who gave his surname as Luo. “However, before I can give you further information, I need to find out about what has happened myself. I can only tell you what happened when I have the information. |
| “No one from our bureau told me about the case. I saw the news and I am currently trying to get more information. I don’t have exact information. What I know at the moment is only hearsay.” | “No one from our bureau told me about the case. I saw the news and I am currently trying to get more information. I don’t have exact information. What I know at the moment is only hearsay.” |
| Luo said a case involving foreign nationals would normally be handled by the ministry of public security rather than by local police. | Luo said a case involving foreign nationals would normally be handled by the ministry of public security rather than by local police. |
| The British embassy spokesperson said it was also unable to shed more light on the reasons for the detentions: “We are seeking further clarification on this from Chinese authorities.” | The British embassy spokesperson said it was also unable to shed more light on the reasons for the detentions: “We are seeking further clarification on this from Chinese authorities.” |
| Imtiaz Sooliman, the founder of Gift of the Givers, suggested the detentions could be a result of some group members’ Islamic faith. | Imtiaz Sooliman, the founder of Gift of the Givers, suggested the detentions could be a result of some group members’ Islamic faith. |
| “This is the month of Ramadan, and the South Africans were likely watching videos of Islamic prayers as many of us do in the evenings,” he was quoted as saying by South Africa’s Independent Online website. | “This is the month of Ramadan, and the South Africans were likely watching videos of Islamic prayers as many of us do in the evenings,” he was quoted as saying by South Africa’s Independent Online website. |
| The officially atheist Communist party has faced international condemnation for its hard-line treatment of Muslim communities in the far western region of Xinjiang. Under-18s are banned from entering mosques and there are regular reports of local authorities outlawing Muslims from fasting during Ramadan. | The officially atheist Communist party has faced international condemnation for its hard-line treatment of Muslim communities in the far western region of Xinjiang. Under-18s are banned from entering mosques and there are regular reports of local authorities outlawing Muslims from fasting during Ramadan. |
| A one-year “people’s war on terror” was launched in the region in May last year after a spate of deadly attacks that Beijing blamed on Islamic extremists. | A one-year “people’s war on terror” was launched in the region in May last year after a spate of deadly attacks that Beijing blamed on Islamic extremists. |
| Earlier this week there were reports that Chinese police in the north-east had shot three suspected terrorists from Xinjiang. | Earlier this week there were reports that Chinese police in the north-east had shot three suspected terrorists from Xinjiang. |
| Gift of the Givers rejected charges against its members in its Facebook statement: “These individuals have no terror links [and] no criminal record in their country.” | Gift of the Givers rejected charges against its members in its Facebook statement: “These individuals have no terror links [and] no criminal record in their country.” |
| Additional reporting by Luna Lin | Additional reporting by Luna Lin |