China has banned civil servants, students and teachers in its mainly Muslim Xinjiang region from fasting during Ramadan and ordered restaurants to stay open.
Most Muslims are required to fast from dawn to dusk during the holy month, which began on Thursday, but China’s ruling Communist party is officially atheist and for years has restricted the practice in Xinjiang, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority.
“Food service workplaces will operate normal hours during Ramadan,” said a notice posted last week on the website of the state Food and Drug Administration in Xinjiang’s Jinghe county.
Officials in the region’s Bole county were told: “During Ramadan do not engage in fasting, vigils or other religious activities,” according to a local government website report of a meeting this week.
Each year, the authority’s attempt to ban fasting among Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang receives widespread criticism from rights groups.
Uighur rights groups say China’s restrictions on Islam in Xinjiang have added to ethnic tensions in the region, where clashes have killed hundreds in recent years.
China says it faces a “terrorist threat” in Xinjiang, with officials blaming “religious extremism” for the growing violence.
“China’s goal in prohibiting fasting is to forcibly move Uighurs away from their Muslim culture during Ramadan,” said Dilxat Rexit, a spokesman for the exiled World Uyghur Congress.
“Policies that prohibit religious fasting is a provocation and will only lead to instability and conflict.”
As in previous years, school children were included in directives limiting Ramadan fasting and other religious observances.
The education bureau of Tarbaghatay city, known as Tacheng in Chinese, this month ordered schools to communicate to students that “during Ramadan, ethnic minority students do not fast, do not enter mosques … and do not attend religious activities”. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Calling for violence that will later turn to terrorism. Islam is different from fanatism. it is fanatism irrespective of religion that usually give rise to terrorism.
ReplyDelete....and if the muslim minority resist this awkward ban, they will be called extremists.This is large-scale injustice
ReplyDeleteThey are pure Terrorist,abi u dont kn b4
DeleteAnonymous @ 4:01PM, We should reason well on issues. They have the right to practice their religion. Assuming you are restrained from practising your religion what will be your reaction?
DeleteThis heading is biased and targeted to steer anger. China never banned Muslims from fasting but only maintained that restaurants operating in Muslim minority regions should remain open during this period. This is what people explicitly translates to ban on fasting.
ReplyDeleteIdeally, in the case of some Islamic states in Nigeria like Kebbi states, Markets are closed during fasting periods regardless of the minorities christian in the state and if the Government responds by saying markets should not be closed then like this News, it will be tagged ban on fasting.
I thought as much. If fasting is what I think it should be, one does not really need any song and dance about it. The Bible warns Christians against broadcasting their fast and says it should be entirely between the individual and God. I don't see how any government can ban that! A Muslim that really wants to fast should not be bothered about legislation "against fasting" - you simply cannot legislate eating!
Delete@ Anonymous 4:58PM, 'kindly read between the line. It is more than restaurant being remained open see quote
Delete“During Ramadan do not engage in fasting, vigils or other religious activities,”
Let's be objective when responding to issues.
Nice one China. When u give Muslims allow,the start to look for allowance. The Chinese is only protecting their country from extremists and terrorists. We all know who the extremists and terrorists are.
ReplyDeleteChina is flirting with trouble. When Muslims can't take anymore shit and restrictions they become uncontrollable and riots erupt as well as violence and Jihad. They should learn from Boko haram, al shabaab in Somalia and Kenya, Charlie Hebdo attack in France etc. Don't dare Muslims, China! They are ready to die to get their point across.
ReplyDelete