Syria denies intention to hand over Uyghur fighters to China
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied on Monday reports claiming that Damascus intends to hand over Uyghur fighters to China, refuting information circulated earlier in the day by international media.
The ministry responded after Agence France-Presse (AFP) published remarks suggesting the Syrian government planned to transfer fighters of Uyghur origin to Chinese authorities. The report cited an unnamed diplomatic source who claimed the transfer would occur in stages and at Beijing’s request.
A Syrian Foreign Ministry official told the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that “there is no truth to what AFP reported about the government’s intention to hand over fighters to China.” The official provided no additional details regarding the reported discussions or the identities of the individuals referenced in the AFP story.
The denial came shortly after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Monday morning. According to official statements released following the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and China’s willingness to support efforts contributing to Syria’s stability. Both governments emphasized the importance of continued cooperation in political, economic, and humanitarian fields.