Vocational training centers aim to promote better lifestyle

A new life

After graduating from the vocational education and training center in Hotan city in August, Reyihangul Azez chose to work at a small textile factory in Gazong, her home village in the city's Xiaoerbage township.

"At the center, I mastered the skills to be a textile worker, so I started working at the factory straight away. Also, the factory is just a 15-minute walk from my house," said the 25-year-old, who used to attend illegal underground prayer sessions at a neighbor's house that were led by religious extremists.

Many residents of Gazong, including Reyihangul Azez, are classified as living in extreme poverty, but it won't be long before Reyihangul Azez's name is crossed off the list.

The mother of two will soon receive her first month's salary after completing her training. Her basic salary will be 1,500 yuan ($215) a month, which will lift her family out of poverty.

"I am a fast learner, and I believe I can make a lot more money in the future," she said.

After being influenced by religious extremists, Zulipunur Turson rejected an offer to become a civil servant in Kashgar in 2014.

Later, she began wearing clothing associated with extremist views and used social media to encourage people to follow suit.

"My mother noticed the change in me, and asked me to stop before it was too late," the 29-year-old said. "We used to be best friends who could talk about anything, but at the time I felt I could not communicate with her anymore, and we drifted apart."

"Back then, my behavior was restricted by the rules imposed by religious extremism. It was depressing because it made me stay away from the modern things in life," she added, speaking at the store where she has worked as a sales assistance since graduating from the Kashgar vocational education and training center.

"Now once again I am free to do the things I enjoy," she said, while displaying a scarf to a customer.

In an interview with Xinhua News Agency on Oct 16, Shohrat Zakir, chairman of Xinjiang, said vocational education and training has led to notable changes in the region's social environment, with a healthy atmosphere on the rise and improper practices declining.

The trainees have become more proactive about shaking off poverty and improving their lives, and have also become more confident about the future, he added.

Thorny issues

Speaking at a media briefing on Oct 24, Hua Chunying, spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, said combating terrorism and extremism is a thorny issue facing countries around the world. The international community generally believes that both the symptoms and root causes should be addressed, and that multipronged measures should be taken to eliminate the breeding grounds of terrorism and extremism.

Over the years, many countries have actively explored ways of fighting terrorism and extremism in accordance with conditions on the ground, Hua said.

She noted that the counterterrorism strategy announced by the British government in June this year stressed early intervention for people affected by extremism. In 2016, France announced that it would establish anti-extremism centers in all of its administrative regions to help people affected to return to leading normal lives. The United States is trying to remold young people affected by extremism via community correction programs.

The relevant practices in China are no different from those in the UK, France and the US, Hua said.

cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn