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Genghis Khan documentary may have been cause of tourists' arrest in China Genghis Khan documentary may have been cause of tourists’ arrest in China
(35 minutes later)
A couple who were part of a group of tourists arrested in China have said their ordeal arose from a misunderstanding when local officials thought a documentary on Genghis Khan was “propaganda” material.A couple who were part of a group of tourists arrested in China have said their ordeal arose from a misunderstanding when local officials thought a documentary on Genghis Khan was “propaganda” material.
Chinese officials arrested the 20 tourists last Friday, a day after they had visited the Genghis Khan mausoleum at Ordos, Inner Mongolia. The arrest took place at Ordos airport, just before they were to board a plane to their next destination, Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi province in central China.Chinese officials arrested the 20 tourists last Friday, a day after they had visited the Genghis Khan mausoleum at Ordos, Inner Mongolia. The arrest took place at Ordos airport, just before they were to board a plane to their next destination, Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi province in central China.
The group was made up of 10 South Africans, nine Britons, and one Indian. Mystery had surrounded the arrests as local police refused to comment and foreign officials said only that the tourists were suspected of “criminal offences”. 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.”The group was made up of 10 South Africans, nine Britons, and one Indian. Mystery had surrounded the arrests as local police refused to comment and foreign officials said only that the tourists were suspected of “criminal offences”. 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.”
But all 20 have now been released without charge, with the last three Britons deported on Friday. Their arrest looks to have been a mistake by overzealous local officials amid a crackdown on human rights activists. More than 145 human rights lawyers and campaigners have been detained as part of a rapidly intensifying campaign against civil society. But all 20 have now been released without charge, with the last three Britons deported on Friday. Their arrest looks to have been a mistake by overzealous local officials amid a crackdown on human rights activists. More than 145 lawyers and campaigners have been detained as part of a rapidly intensifying campaign.
Among the tourists detained were Hoosain Ismail Jacobs, a 74-year-old former anti-apartheid activist who has lived in exile in Britain for more than 25 years, and his wife, Tahira, 68.Among the tourists detained were Hoosain Ismail Jacobs, a 74-year-old former anti-apartheid activist who has lived in exile in Britain for more than 25 years, and his wife, Tahira, 68.
A statement issued on behalf of the couple - who have dual nationality (British and South African) and travelled with South African passports - said they were tired after their ordeal but in good spirits. While the experience was distressing, they said they were looked after at all times and treated well. A statement issued on behalf of the couple – who have dual British and South African nationality and travelled with South African passports – said they were tired after their ordeal but in good spirits. While the experience was distressing, they said they were looked after at all times and treated well.
The statement described the group as law-abiding citizens with absolutely no criminal records, and put their arrest down to a misunderstanding.The statement described the group as law-abiding citizens with absolutely no criminal records, and put their arrest down to a misunderstanding.
“They watched a documentary on Genghis Khan to further their understanding of the region they were in at the time, and this may have mistakenly been deemed as ‘propaganda’ material... It can only be assumed that junior officials who made the initial arrest in Inner Mongolia made a mistake, due to perhaps their unfamiliarity of the English language. The Jacobs family wish to thank the senior Chinese authorities in Beijing for the swift manner in which they have resolved this unfortunate misunderstanding.” “They watched a documentary on Genghis Khan to further their understanding of the region they were in at the time, and this may have mistakenly been deemed as ‘propaganda’ material … It can only be assumed that junior officials who made the initial arrest in Inner Mongolia made a mistake, due to perhaps their unfamiliarity of the English language. The Jacobs family wish to thank the senior Chinese authorities in Beijing for the swift manner in which they have resolved this unfortunate misunderstanding.”
An itinerary of the 47-day deluxe trip showed plans for an extensive tour of all the main tourist attractions in China, including the Yangtze river, Shaolin temple, the Great Wall, the terracotta warriors and horses in X’ian and Tiananmen Square. The tourists, aged from 33 to 74, had planned to visit the square on Monday 20 July.An itinerary of the 47-day deluxe trip showed plans for an extensive tour of all the main tourist attractions in China, including the Yangtze river, Shaolin temple, the Great Wall, the terracotta warriors and horses in X’ian and Tiananmen Square. The tourists, aged from 33 to 74, had planned to visit the square on Monday 20 July.
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 watched the Genghis Khan documentary 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 watched the Genghis Khan documentary.
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, 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, from where they were due to travel north to visit attractions including the Loess plateau and the mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor.