Uighur exile groups claimed that Chinese authroties...

Uighur exile groups claimed that Chinese authroties have detained as many as 3,000 people in Xinjiang since September [2001], with scores also executed for alleged terrorist activities.
Although the number of Uighurs fighting for independence has dwindled to next to nothing over recent years, Beijing uses any excuse to tighten its control over the region.
The September 11 terrorist attacks were therefore the perfect pretext for a new wave of persecution of the largest Muslim minority group in far western China.