China may have committed crimes against humanity in Xinjiang

China's "arbitrary and discriminatory detention" of Uyghurs and other Muslims in its Xinjiang region may constitute crimes against humanity, Qazet.az reports according to the outgoing U.N. human rights chief .

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, who some diplomats and rights groups have criticized as soft on China, released the report just minutes before her four-year term ended. 

China has vigorously denied any abuses in Xinjiang and issued a 131-page response to the 48-page U.N. report.

The U.N. Human Rights Office said in the report that "serious human rights violations have been committed" in Xinjiang in the context of the government's application of "counter-terrorism and counter-'extremism' strategies".

"The extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim groups ... may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity," the U.N. office said on its website.