Chinese Muslims banned from fasting in Ramadan
by OnIslam & News AgenciesSource: OnIslam
Amid fresh arrests, restrictions on fasting and prayers at mosques, Uighur Muslims are suffering under the latest episode of Chinese government crackdown on their ethnic minority in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
“If any religious figure discusses Ramadan during the course of religious activities, or encourages people to take part, then they will lose their license to practice,” Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the Munich-based World Uighur Congress, told Eurasia Review on Friday, August 5.
“The more serious cases will result in arrests for incitement to engage in illegal religious activity,” he said.
A day before the start of the holy fasting month for China’s Muslims, at least 11 people were killed in a series of attacks in the north-western region of Xinjiang.
Chinese authorities blamed the attacks to the ethnic minority, after which the Chinese police shot dead two Muslims last Sunday.
The attacks came less than two weeks after 18 people were killed in an attack in the restive Xinjiang region.
Following the unrest, more than 100 uighurs were detained by Chinese authorities.
Most of those detained as suspects were committed Muslims who attended mosque and whose wives wore veils, residents say.
Xinjiang’s capital, Urumqi, was the scene of deadly violence in July 2009 when the mainly Muslim Uighur minority vented resentment over Chinese restrictions in the region.
In the following days, mobs of angry Han took to the streets looking for revenge in the worst ethnic violence that China had seen in decades.
The unrest left nearly 200 dead and 1,700 injured, according to government figures. But Uighurs, a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority, say the toll was much higher and mainly from their community.
China’s authorities have convicted about 200 people, mostly Uighurs, over the riots and sentenced 26 of them to death.
No Fasting
Beijing slapped severe restrictions on Chinese Muslims as the holy fasting month of Ramadan started.
As for Muslim members of the government throughout Xinjiang, the government forced them to sign “letters of responsibility” promising to avoid fasting, evening prayers, or other religious activities.
“Fasting during Ramadan is a traditional ethnic custom, and they are allowed to do that,” an employee who answered the phone at a local government neighborhood committee office in the regional capital Urumqi said confirming the restrictions.
“But they aren’t allowed to hold any religious activities during Ramadan,” she added.
“Party members are not allowed to fast for Ramadan, and neither are civil servants.”
As for private companies, Uighur Muslim employees were offered lunches during fasting hours.
Anyone who refuses to eat could lose their annual bonus, or even their job, Raxit added.
Officials have also targeted Muslim schoolchildren, providing them with free lunches during the fasting period.
A Uighur resident of Beijing said students under 18 are forbidden from fasting during Ramadan. Moreover, government campaigns forced restaurants in the Muslim majority region to stay open all day.
More restrictions were also imposed on people trying to attend prayers at mosques.
Everyone attending prayers has to register with their national identity card, he added.
“They have to register,” he said.
“[After prayers] they aren’t allowed to [congregate and] talk to each other.”
In Ramadan, adult Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.
The sick and those traveling are exempt from fasting especially if it poses health risks.
Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to be closer to Allah through prayers, self-restraint and good deeds.
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its high time china gets to know who is the real owner of this universe ,i hope it gets a lesson from the tsunami which hit th japan coast , IF ALLAH WANTS TO TEACH A LESSON TO CHINA THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT IN ITS LAND EXCEPT TH YELLOW SAND .
Jihad is the sulotion....ALLAH HO AKBAR ALLAH HO AKBAR ALLAH HO AKBAR
ASA. I HAVE WANTED TO TEACH IN URUMQI FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.iA
what has happened to d whole muslim ummah?
Way to go China, we need to oppress the believers of Satan (Allah) wherever we find them. We need to eradicate this cancer. The world will be better without these hate-mongers.
What about boycotting Chinese products on world wide scale. Push it through the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). We must make the world know that the Chinese are discriminating their Muslim citizens. I know Chinese products are cheap, but we can get some alternatives from Muslims countries or those that are friendly to Muslms. For clothings get from Pakistan and Bangladesh, food from Turkey, electrical and electronics products from Malaysia etc.
one on another day every living thing has end if u end ur life on islam then ur aaqira will be jannah.if a muslim died as a shaheed then allah promise befr the drop of blood fall on earth surly u vl enter jannah. may allah protect chinese muslim ameen ya rabullalameen.
Allah is with those who are patient. May Allah help then and may He protect them amin
subhanallah uighurs or not.. may Allah hav mercy on our brothers n sisters who are suffering there and are having their right to live in freedom n practice their religion in freedom taken away from them in such cruel ways! let us all remember them during our siyam and at the tym of iftar and during our qiyam and at the tym of qunoot! May Allah ease their situation and grant their shaheeds jannatul firdaws
Every muslim has the right to do all the religious activities all over the world. Why every restriction imposed forcibly on muslims? I protest this matter, it should not b like that. Kindly give the muslims their rights because its very precious month for muslims. Allah give us all the blessings of this month. Amen
The situation in Xinjiang is also worse due to some pakistani stupid leaders/groups. in this province Muslims were happy and were easily practicing their religion and also were growing in number, but meanwhile some Pakistani stupid leaders/groups approached and motivated them for fighting against Non-Muslim govt of china. These Pakistani leader's stupidity pushed chines muslims into trouble, what they are facing today. no one govt restrict other religions unless the followers of the religion become symbol of trouble for govt. peaceful preaching (Tableegh) is the most powerful and effective mean of preaching Islam in these nations. almost every one is ready to turn to Islam, if he/she is taught the actual lights of Islam
I hope the Uighurs, Tatars, Uzbeks and Kazakhs don't resort to violence again because my mum is there at the moment as well as I worry for my extended family.
There needs to be more knowledge of what is happening in Xinjiang to get around more- without the use of violence.
The sad thing is many Uighurs who have escaped to neigbouring countries such as Pakistan, Kazahkstan, Uzbekistan and even Saudi Arabia have been caught and handed to the Chinese where they have either been executed or given long prison sentences....just type in Ershidin Israil in google as an example of someone that was returned....and now they dont know where he is...so who do the Uighur Muslims ask for help when Muslims are ignorant of the situation in East Turkistan.
Where is amnesty?
lol, we need to stop calling on others (i.e. the kufar) to help us! It's time for the muslims to help themselves!
It doesn't matter. We live in the same community. The Prophet (SAW) stood for justice for all and don't forget his uncle never accepted Islam and protected him as a young child. So, the lesson is there for you to see.
ya Latif! Im almost certain that this would infringe on some human/cival rights law. SubhanAllah.
May Allah give them courage and strength. La hawla wala quwwata ila billah.
May Allah grant these muslims His Mercy and His Victory over these oppressors. It's very painful to sit in this country happily well fed after iftar - safe and secure while our brothers and sisters are being tried over there. Ya Allah - allow these muslims to overcome this trial.
In fact their part of what is now China was chosen for the nuclear testing programs. Their oppression is unique and targeted.
The point is Mohamad, that other Muslims in China are not being targeted in the same way. It is specifically the Uighur.
Yolvas - Who cares what ethnicity they are, them being Chinese or Turkish does not matter to us (muslims). If they are muslim then they are my brothers and sisters a bond stronger then any kind. Oh Allah give us Victory over our enemies
Mohamad, it does matter what their ethniticy is ! As a Muslim you should know whats happening in that area and to whom.
If you were called a Mohammedan you would be insulted because thats the name used by the unbelievers. Same with the Uighurs they get insulted when they are called Chinese and their land called Xinjiang.
Please be sensitive to other peoples requests.
Allahu mustean
how horrible never new that somethig like this existed these days
La Hawla wala quwatta illa billah. May Allah keep them strong and steadfast and open the hearts of the persecutors.
SubhanAllah...this is depressing news. State governmental control of the population with respect to Ramadan, prayers, etc. Where does the control end? We have to be thankful for many of the things we have here, which allow us to practice our deen as we generally see fit.
The title of this article is a bit misleading......Chinese Muslims are not the same as Uighur Muslims.
Chinese Muslims are commonly known as Hui who are ethnically Chinese and speak Mandarin but their religion is Islam and they are not subjected to the same restrictions placed on Uighur Muslims.
Whereas Uighur Muslims are closely related to Uzbeks and distantly to the Turks of Turkey. They speak a Turkic language and their culture is similiar to uzbeks, tatars, kazakhs, kygrz.
The article im assuming written by a Muslim uses the term Xinjiang ( meaning new frontier) which is infact an insult to all Uighurs as its a name given to this area by the oppressive Chinese government in 1949 when they occupied this area which is known by Uighurs Muslims as East Turkistan.
For further information please visit etaa.org.au or uyghuramerican.org.
May Allah keep them steadfast and strengthen the ummah and weaken the enemies,amen.
This is disgusting, how can such persecution go along unchecked! I wonder what means of protest would be effective? Something that would hurt China financially I think, but it must be a means that is directed at the authorities and not the innocent people of the population. I imagine boycotting their products would also hurt the general people not only the authorities. I don't know, but something must be done, some stance must be made.
May Allah help them and free them from this persecution.
Ya latif!! Innalillahi wainna ilayhi rojiun. May Allah (swt) be pleased with them and make it easy for them InshaAllah. La hawla wala quwata illah billah.We are truly blessed to be in Oz to practice our Deen Alhamdullillah.
Subhanallah, this is like during the Makkan period when RSAW and the sahabas were being persecuted for trying to practice islam!. May Allah reward them all.
Your right, and were nearing to that side of the circle, once the cycle is complete, things will happen.
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May Allah open everyones hearts to Love and unity--its so sad when i read that Uighur Muslims in China were discouraged like this during Ramadan-May Allah open their hearts and teach them mercy and Love
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