China 'expels' French journalist over Uighur article

China has effectively expelled a French journalist over an article she wrote that was critical of Beijing's policy towards Muslim Uighers in Xinjiang.

Beijing confirmed it would not renew press credentials for Ursula Gauthier, of the French news magazine L'Obs.

It said an article she wrote about the unrest in Xinjiang supported "terrorism and cruel acts" that killed people.

Ms Gauthier called the claims "absurd" and said Beijing was trying to "deter" foreign reporters in the country.

If her press card is not renewed, Ms Gauthier cannot apply for a new visa, and will have to leave China by 31 December.

She would be the first foreign journalist to be expelled since Al Jazeera correspondent Melissa Chan in 2012.

China blames the long-running unrest in western autonomous Xinjiang region on Islamist separatists, many of whom it says have foreign ties.

But Xinjiang's ethnic Uighurs, most of whom are Muslim, say Beijing's repression of their religious and cultural customs is provoking the violence.

China has been cracking down on what it calls "terrorists" with foreign links in Xinjiang

Ms Gauthier published her article after the attacks in Paris in November, suggesting China's solidarity with France might have an ulterior motive, to justify its own crackdowns in Xinjiang.

The article triggered condemnation from the Chinese government and state media who demanded an apology and retraction from her.

China's foreign ministry on Saturday confirmed it would not renew Ms Gauthier's press card, saying she had failed to make a "serious apology" to the Chinese people and was no longer "suitable" to continue working in the country.

"China will never support the freedom to champion terrorism," it said.

The foreign ministry complained of a double standard whereby tough action in the West is called anti-terrorism but in China is described as the repression of ethnic minorities.

But Ms Gauthier called the accusations "absurd" and said she was being asked to apologise "for things that I have not written".

She told the Associated Press she feared the move was "only meant to deter foreign correspondents in the future in Beijing".

Uighurs and Xinjiang

• Uighurs are ethnically Turkic Muslims
• They make up about 45% of the region's population; 40% are Han Chinese
• China re-established control in 1949 after crushing short-lived state of East Turkestan
• Since then, there has been large-scale immigration of Han Chinese
• Uighurs fear erosion of traditional culture

Source: BBC