Tibetan Ethnic Group
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A research paper published in the science journal Human Genetics has been taken down following revelations that the research used DNA samples taken from Tibetans, Uyghurs and Kazakhs whose consent, said the journal website, was “most likely ignored during the research process”. Their retraction note stated that it, “has not been able to fully verify whether appropriate informed consent was obtained from all study participants in this article.” The research was looking at genetic variation in ethnic groups.
The Intercept has reported that “the research paper was based on DNA samples from nearly 38,000 men in China, including Tibetans and Uyghurs who almost certainly did not give proper consent”. The Intercept’s report continues, saying the retraction “follows a two-year crusade by a Belgian scientist [Yves Moreau] to push publishers to investigate research that he and others say is complicit in human rights violations”.
The Intercept also says that “At least nine of the paper’s 30 co-authors are affiliated with Chinese police departments or police academies”, and that it is “likely that at least some of the Chinese samples were collected by police”.
There has long been concern that China routinely collects data from people without their consent to facilitate organ harvesting. In June last year the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner published a report China: UN human rights experts alarmed by ‘organ harvesting’ allegations saying that UN human rights experts were “extremely alarmed by reports of alleged ‘organ harvesting’ targeting minorities, including Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Muslims and Christians, in detention in China”.
The report continues, “The experts said they have received credible information that detainees from ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities may be forcibly subjected to blood tests and organ examinations such as ultrasound and x-rays, without their informed consent; while other prisoners are not required to undergo such examinations. The results of the examinations are reportedly registered in a database of living organ sources that facilitates organ allocation.
“Forced organ harvesting in China appears to be targeting specific ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities held in detention, often without being explained the reasons for arrest or given arrest warrants, at different locations,” they said. “We are deeply concerned by reports of discriminatory treatment of the prisoners or detainees based on their ethnicity and religion or belief.” Organs harvested are reported to include hearts, kidneys and livers.
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