DANGEROUS !!! MUSLIMS PRAYING AT A NO-STOP SIGN IN XINJIANG, CHINA ! - 19/8/2012
Muslims in Xinjiang pray near a no-stopping sign on the first day of Ramadan. Photograph: AP
(Washington, DC - August 2, 2012) The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) urges the government of China to put an end to the religious persecution of Uighur Muslims in its northwestern region of Xinjiang. Recent reports indicate that the local officials have expressly forbidden government employees and students to participate in Ramadan activities, preventing some of them from entering mosques to pray, wearing beards or headscarves, and fasting. The approximately 9 million Uighurs in China have faced ethnic discrimination and religious persecution for many years, often escalating to protests and violence.
ISNA Calls for Religious Freedom for Uighur Muslims in China
Muslims in Xinjiang pray near a no-stopping sign on the first day of Ramadan. Photograph: AP
(Washington, DC - August 2, 2012) The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) urges the government of China to put an end to the religious persecution of Uighur Muslims in its northwestern region of Xinjiang. Recent reports indicate that the local officials have expressly forbidden government employees and students to participate in Ramadan activities, preventing some of them from entering mosques to pray, wearing beards or headscarves, and fasting. The approximately 9 million Uighurs in China have faced ethnic discrimination and religious persecution for many years, often escalating to protests and violence.
ISNA
commends the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF) for its statement last week in support of the Uighur people.
“Beijing’s brutal campaign of repression against Uighur Muslims includes
even the targeting of peaceful private gatherings for religious study
and devotion," said USCIRF Chair Dr. Katrina Lantos-Swett. "The
government is engaged in egregious abuses of internationally
recognized human rights, including the precious right of freedom and
religion or belief. Predictably, these abuses have led neither to
stability nor security.”
On
Thursday, Chinese courts took one step further when they sentenced 20
people to as many as 15 years in jail for "separatist" activities.
According to AFP, the only named individuals were all of Uighur descent.
A spokesman for the World Uyghur Congress stated that "these harsh
sentences, stemming from judicial procedures that fall below
international standards, are additional measures designed to silence
Uyghurs and impose state control over the Uyghur population."
ISNA
urges the government of China put an end to these abusive practices and
asks American Muslims to pray for all Muslims around the world who are
facing harsh oppression during this blessed month of Ramadan.
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