China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang authorities’ have banned Muslim officials and students from religious activities i.e. praying Salat in Mosques and fasting during Ramadan, prompting an exiled rights group to warn of new violence.
According to a spokesman based in Munich, the government, which earlier this month stepped up security around the sensitive anniversary of the 2009 ethnic violence between Uyghurs and Han Chinese that killed nearly 200 people, has banned any public religious activities by the Muslims.
Statement posted on the government of China’s website, urged party leaders to bring “gifts” of food to local village leaders to ensure that they were eating during Ramadan.
Similar orders on curbing Ramadan activities were posted on other local government websites, with the educational bureau of Wensu county urging schools to ensure that students do not enter mosques during Ramadan.
The region is home to a large Muslim ethnic minority, many of whom accuse China’s leaders of religious and political persecution.
“Seek knowledge even as far as China.” –
Said Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
