Will China Again Forbid its Muslim Uighurs to Fast During Ramadan?

During Ramadan in 2008, our Muslim brothers and sisters were forbidden from fasting by Chinese authorities in Xinjiang. Students, teachers and civil servants were barred from fasting. For example, students in schools through out this region were being ordered to eat. Children under 18 years were being specifically targeted: they could not fast or enter mosques. Men were ordered to shave off their beards and women were ordered to remove their hijab. Restaurants which closed during Ramadan were threatened with fines. Mosques were being checked on at least twice a week. All religious activities related to Ramadhan were forbidden. No loudspeakers were allowed to for the adhan in this Muslim majority region.

Please remember them during this upcoming month, fast Insha Allah, and make it a point to go to the Mosque as often as you can.

Muslim Uighurs Struggle to Maintain their Identity

July 2009

The Chinese government has accused Uighur exiles of inciting violent protests in Urumqi in the western province of Xinjiang.

But many ethnic Uighurs blame Beijing for systematically destroying their culture and identity. The Chinese are limiting education in the Uighur language and forcing Uighur children to be taught in the Chinese language.

Al Jazeera’s Nazanine Moshiri explores the tense relationship between Uighurs and China’s leaders.

China Using 9/11 as Excuse to Repress Chinese Muslims in Xinjiang

And the violence in Xinjiang is causign outrage among the Uighur population living overseas. Among them, Wu’er Kaixi, who fled China after leading students to protest on Tiananmen Square in 1989. Here’s what he has to say about the violence there.
Now living and working in Taiwan, Wu’er Kaixi says the Communist Party uses the U.S. sponsored fight against terror as an excuse to crack down on the China’s Uighurs.

[Wuer Kaixi, Uighur Dissident]:

“Especially after 9-11 incident in the U.S., when U.S. has asked China to join the allies in anti-terrorism, Chinese has adopted this method to label all Uighur ethnic demonstration or protest, even if it’s very peaceful protest, label it as terrorist act. The very fact that Uighur people being Muslim, unfortunately in the world, is one of the reasons not getting attention and sympathy.”

Wu’er Kaixi fled to France at the age of 21 and studied at Harvard University before moving to Taiwan.

Chinas Communist Party has rejected his request to return to the country to visit his aging parents.

Wu’er says the Partys policy in Xinjiang means that future unrest is likely.

[Wuer Kaixi, Uighur Dissident]:
“After using such a terrorizing force to establish order may not be that difficult for the Chinese government, but to have the people’s willingness to submit to the government, that is not going to be an easy task. I see similar incidents return. It will come back. I feel very sad about the fact that the hatred between the two ethnic groups, between Han Chinese and the Uighur people, are increasing day by day, but the Chinese government is not doing anything to ease that, on the contrary, they are pouring oil on the flame.”

Xinjiang is the doorway to China’s trade and energy ties with Central Asia, and is itself rich in gas, minerals and farm produce.

But many Uighurs say they see little of that wealth. Almost half of Xinjiang’s 20 million people are Uighurs.

The population of Urumqi is mostly Han Chinese, and the city is under tight police security even in normal times.

China Restricts the Practice of Islam

Islamonline.net

China Restricts Islam

IslamOnline.net & Newspapers

Chinese authorities have enforced laws restricting Muslims in the northwestern region of Xinjiang from practicing their faith. (NY Times photo)

CAIRO — With prayers banned in public areas, private hajj trips not allowed, teaching of the Noble Qur’an not allowed in private and students and government officials forced to eat during Ramadan, China is enforcing laws and regulations restricting the practice of Islam.
“Of course this makes people angry,” Mohammad, a teacher, told The New York Times on Sunday, October 19.

“Excitable people think the government is wrong in what it does. They say that government officials who are Muslims should also be allowed to pray.”

In recent week, Chinese authorities have enforced laws restricting the ability of Muslims in the northwestern region of Xinjiang from practicing their faith.

In Khotan, signs posted in front of the grand mosque say the weekly Friday prayer sermon must not extend beyond than a half-hour.

Prayers in public areas outside the mosque is forbidden and residents are banned from worshipping at mosques outside their town.

Under the rules, imams are banned from teaching the Qur’an in private and only official versions of the Qur’an are allowed.

Studying Arabic is only allowed at special government schools.

Government workers are banned from showing the slightest sign of religious devotion.

For example, a Muslim civil servant could be sacked for donning hijab.

Many of the rules have been on the books for years, but local authorities have publicly highlighted them in recent weeks with banners hanged in towns.

They began posting regulations mandating women not to wear hijab and men to shave their beards. [more]