it's a very difficult subject to broach due to the lack of substantial evidence as opposed to the weight of politicised hearsay (e.g the supposedly pregnant 55 year old forced to undergo sterilisation and her report that it is widespread) that is rewarded with wide media coverage and financial or charitable gain.
The clear and obvious fact to mention here is exactly what you have stated: many are unsubstantiated reports that are likely politicised or for other gain and manifestly exaggerated by Western media and politicians, especially since they lack any proof aside from hearsay (removal to camps aside, see below). The weight of which manipulates elements of the population into credence, yourself an example.
In this the Govt. here is complicite simply by carrying on in the way they always have with any Govt. policy. With secrecy, denial and a lack of clarity that could clarify exactly what is happening.
I like to think that as I have lived a quarter of a century here I have a foot on either side of the divide, that I receive more information and consequently probably have a more balanced view than that portrayed by either the Western or Chinese media and politicians. That may or may not be the case but I am not inundated / brainwashed by a single view that can indisputably distort opinion.
What is incontrovertible are the satellite images showing 'educational camps', these now not denied by the Govt. here and which they claim to be educational camps, though almost certainly are along the line of other re-education camps for political prisoners (it's pointless to get into a debate regarding re-education camps for political prisoners since they are a reality that Western Govts' have to a degree accepted as a way of life here). I'm not claiming these are acceptable in any form but it is a reality of politics here.
Of course for sure there will be numerous bad elements amongst the guards in the camps and everyone knows what can and will then happen. But it is a Govt. policy? Highly unlikely. Localised incidents, amongst such a large number of people, is I suspect far more likely.
This is a very deep debate that mostly lacks incontrovertible evidence.The fact there are numerous large camps is likely evidence to the contrary of mass executions (though I've no doubt whatsoever that those termed 'radicals' suffered that fate, this being the standard policy for terrorists e.g those perpetrating the Muslim separatist attacks that antedated the camps and likely elicited such a radical response - see also the USA and UK response to similar issues pertaining to the Middle East or Central America).
The fact is that because of the secrecy (typical for any Govt. policy in China) surrounding these camps is that rumours and innuendo will flourish, as they always have in the West regarding China. The reality, as nearly always in any one-sided proclamation, probably lies somewhere in between the two extremes.
I've spoken, at great length to people whose family have been affected. People who have friends and family that they've not heard from in years.
One lady has over 90 members of her extended family who they've not had any contact with over the past few years.
Have they been murdered and killed? I dunno but they are certainly in 'camps' for nothing more than being Uyghur and having political views. Views are not the same as any attacks. There is plenty of evidence to support this. Not from individuals but plenty of NGOs and think tanks, feel free to not accept these views as you have a foot in both camps and that apparently these are uncorroborated in your view.
The point is also this has been going on for years, I recall this over 8 years ago. Where muslims were not allowed to fast, pray etc. The lack of willingness to do anything has allowed this current situation to occur.
This isn't a case of a handful of bad apple guards it's millions of people forcibly detained, it's people who are abused and taken from their families.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/China_hidden_camps
If the genocide word is a little too emotive for you, then certainly the suggested above of ethnic cleaning is one you'd accept. As reported, plenty of the cultural, religious buildings have been demolished, this isn't hearsay or the west thinking China are baddies, it's satellite images. 'Educating' people into the language and belief system forced labour and worse.
Plus, maybe they don't want to clarify what is exactly going on for good reason!
re somewhere in the middle between two extremes.
At best it's forced detention, imprisoned against their will, sent to work in places far away from their homeland, forced to accept the ideals of the CCP etc
at worst- well as discussed before.
Either way, there isn't a it's a bit of both sides, somewhere in the middle.