China confiscates passports of Xinjiang people
November 24, 2016BBC
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Chinese authorities have begun confiscating passports from people in the western region of Xinjiang, which has seen regular unrest.
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The move, which the government says is aimed at combating “terrorism”, has been criticised by human rights groups.
In June police in Xinjiang ordered residents to provide DNA samples and other biological data when applying for travel documents.
Under the new regulations all people in Xinjiang are required to hand in their travel documents to police for “safekeeping”.
The BBC’s Stephen McDonell in Beijing says that all residents must now apply for permission to leave the country before they can retrieve their passports.