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Three more Britons held in China to be deported Three more Britons held in China to be deported
(35 minutes later)
Three British tourists arrested in China on suspicion of viewing terrorist videos are to be released, authorities in Beijing have said.Three British tourists arrested in China on suspicion of viewing terrorist videos are to be released, authorities in Beijing have said.
The Foreign Office in London said the three would be deported on Friday, a week after they were arrested on a tour in northern China. Six other Britons who were arrested at the same time returned to the UK on Thursday.The Foreign Office in London said the three would be deported on Friday, a week after they were arrested on a tour in northern China. Six other Britons who were arrested at the same time returned to the UK on Thursday.
The Britons were among a 20-strong group of foreigners arrested at Ordos airport while on a 47-day tour of ancient China. The group comprised 10 South Africans, who are understood to have been released, nine Britons and one Indian man.The Britons were among a 20-strong group of foreigners arrested at Ordos airport while on a 47-day tour of ancient China. The group comprised 10 South Africans, who are understood to have been released, nine Britons and one Indian man.
Mystery had surrounded the arrests as local police refused to comment and foreign officials said only that the tourists were suspected of “criminal offences”. But on Thursday Zhang Xi, an official in Ordos in charge of dealing with foreigners, told the media: “These people are suspected of watching and spreading violent terrorist videos.”Mystery had surrounded the arrests as local police refused to comment and foreign officials said only that the tourists were suspected of “criminal offences”. But on Thursday Zhang Xi, an official in Ordos in charge of dealing with foreigners, told the media: “These people are suspected of watching and spreading violent terrorist videos.”
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “Chinese authorities have said the remaining three British nationals detained in Ordos will be deported shortly. Our consular staff have visited the detainees and received assurances from the Chinese government about their health and treatment. The embassy is in regular contact with the Chinese authorities both in Ordos and in Beijing.”A Foreign Office spokesman said: “Chinese authorities have said the remaining three British nationals detained in Ordos will be deported shortly. Our consular staff have visited the detainees and received assurances from the Chinese government about their health and treatment. The embassy is in regular contact with the Chinese authorities both in Ordos and in Beijing.”
Those arrested include Hoosain Ismail Jacobs, a 74-year-old former anti-apartheid activist who had lived in exile in Britain for more than 25 years, and Dr Feroz Suliman, a surgeon at the Waterfall hospital in Midrand, South Africa, and his wife, Dr Shehnaaz Mohamed.Those arrested include Hoosain Ismail Jacobs, a 74-year-old former anti-apartheid activist who had lived in exile in Britain for more than 25 years, and Dr Feroz Suliman, a surgeon at the Waterfall hospital in Midrand, South Africa, and his wife, Dr Shehnaaz Mohamed.
The South African humanitarian aid agency Gift of the Givers, which has been working to secure the tourists’ release, has denied that the detainees have any links to terrorist organisations or criminal histories.The South African humanitarian aid agency Gift of the Givers, which has been working to secure the tourists’ release, has denied that the detainees have any links to terrorist organisations or criminal histories.
In a statement on its Facebook page, the group said conditions in the detention centre were not good and that relatives of those arrested had received little information. “The Chinese, now trying to find reasons for the detention suggested that some members were linked to a terror group, to a banned organisation, to watching propaganda videos in their hotel room,” it added.In a statement on its Facebook page, the group said conditions in the detention centre were not good and that relatives of those arrested had received little information. “The Chinese, now trying to find reasons for the detention suggested that some members were linked to a terror group, to a banned organisation, to watching propaganda videos in their hotel room,” it added.
The announcement that the detainees were to be freed was welcomed by family members including Shameel Joosub, chief executive of the African telecoms giant Vodacom, whose brother, aunt and uncle were among those arrested. The announcement that the detainees were to be freed was welcomed by family members including Shameel Joosub, chief executive of the African telecoms giant Vodacom, whose brother, aunt and uncle were among those arrested. “It’s a huge relief that the remaining members of the tour group have been released by the Chinese authorities,” he said.
“It’s a huge relief that the remaining members of the tour group have been released by the Chinese authorities,” he said. An itinerary of the 47-day trip, seen by the Guardian, shows plans for an extensive tour of all the main tourist attractions in China, including the Yangtze river, Shaolin temple and Tiananmen Square. The tourists had planned to visit the square on Monday 20 July.
“We give thanks for the grace of the Almighty who has made this possible. My family and I would also like to extend our gratitude to the deputy president [of South Africa] for everything he has done to bring them home.
“We also want to thank the staff of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, to the consular services staff in China, to the Gift of the Givers, and to all the other people who worked so hard to resolve the situation.
“I’d also like to give a special thanks for all the messages of support which gave us strength through this ordeal. It’s only when things are difficult that we truly appreciate those around us.”
An itinerary of the 47-day trip, seen by the Guardian, shows an extensive tour of all the main tourist attractions in China – including the Yangtze river, Shaolin temple and Tiananmen Square.
The tourists were due to visit the politically controversial Beijing square on 20 July – but were arrested at Ordos airport in Inner Mongolia last Friday on the 30th day of the tour.
The itinerary shows that the group were staying at the luxury Crowne Plaza hotel in Ordos for the five nights before they were arrested. It is not known whether it was this hotel where the tourists were alleged by Chinese authorities to have watched terrorist videos.The itinerary shows that the group were staying at the luxury Crowne Plaza hotel in Ordos for the five nights before they were arrested. It is not known whether it was this hotel where the tourists were alleged by Chinese authorities to have watched terrorist videos.
The days before they were arrested were spent at the Genghis Khan mausoleum, according to the itinerary. The tour operator, China Odyssey Tours, had arranged to fly the group from Ordos to Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi province in central China, from where they were due to travel north to visit attractions including the Loess plateau, the mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor and the Luochuan loess.The days before they were arrested were spent at the Genghis Khan mausoleum, according to the itinerary. The tour operator, China Odyssey Tours, had arranged to fly the group from Ordos to Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi province in central China, from where they were due to travel north to visit attractions including the Loess plateau, the mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor and the Luochuan loess.