As a result, since late 2000, Sharmila has been repeatedly detained, force-fed and then set free for a day before being re-arrested.
This is one of a growing number of internment camps in the Xinjiang region, where by some estimates 1 million Muslims are detained, forced to give up their language and their religion and subject to political indoctrination.
"What we're saying is: 'Saddam Hussein, as far as we understand today, is a P.O.W., prisoner of war, protected by the third Geneva Convention as all prisoners of war are.' "In theory, when a war ends and when an occupation ends, the detaining force has to release prisoners of war or civilian detainees if there are no reasons for holding them".
And four journalists from The Washington Post were detained by forces that they suspected were from the Interior Ministry.
When BBC journalists approached the building they were briefly detained and forced to relinquish their footage.
Several journalists who have entered the region have been detained or forced to leave.
All three said they were detained and forced to stay in guest houses outside the city during voting.
On Thursday, 3 Syrians were briefly detained and forced to sign pledges not to participate in future protests, after they protested, along with 12 others, against corruption and high cellphone costs.
"I think the government still looks at what I do as just cartoons, child's play," he said, struggling to explain why other artists and bloggers were detained or forced into exile while he escaped unscathed.
In some cases, we found that the detained were forced to pay bribes in order to avoid arrest.
Suspects who appear intoxicated can be detained and forced to urinate under observation for traces of drugs.
