China bans passports for Muslims and Tibetans

Chinese authorities have imposed a two-tier system for issuing passports that has made it difficult for Tibetans and members of other ethnic minorities to travel, the Human Rights Watch said.

The system requires residents from areas that have substantial Tibetan or Muslim populations to provide more extensive documentation than other citizens, and has led to waits of up to five years or outright refusals of passports without explanation, the group said.

The government has intensified controls over ethnic minority groups who have protested against Chinese rule, fearing instability in the sensitive border regions in which they live.

The HRW report came a few days after Thailand deported dozens of ethnic minority Uighur Muslims back to China, drawing fierce criticism from several countries.