BEIJING, April 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the years,
well-educated young people became key recruitment targets for
terrorist groups in and outside of Xinjiang. Dolqun Yalqun and
Dilnur Eziz were both studying abroad when they came under the
influence of extremism. The experience has turned their lives
upside down and ultimately landed them behind bars.
Dolqun was studying abroad for an advanced degree when he became
involved with the East Turkistan Independence Movement (ETIM),
which changed its name to the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) in
2014. The group is responsible for numerous killings in Xinjiang
and has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United
Nations.
Dolqun said such "philosophical influence" was gradual and
subtle. Soon, he began to feel "worthless" and started perceiving
people outside of his faith as "infidels." In 2019, Dolqun was
sentenced to seven years for inciting terrorism and other crimes.
Now, he thinks the greatest meaning in life is to realize one's
value on the right path. He wants to use his experience to alert
others who are about to head on the same course.
Dilnur said she began attending Quran lectures out of curiosity.
As she became more involved, she felt a "steady trickle" of
indoctrination and began feeling the atmosphere was "off." Then,
she was shown videos of terrorist training in camps and encouraged
to carry out missions in different countries.
"I feel deceived and used," Dilnur said.
This is one of many stories in CGTN's exclusive documentary
"The war in the shadows: Challenges of fighting terrorism in
Xinjiang." Watch the full documentary here.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04-02/From-well-educated-students-to-radicalized-extremists-in-Xinjiang-Z7JZcRJ9gk/index.html
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL8KLPiTSMc
Photo:
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1484974/CGTN_exclusive_documentary.jpg