China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Why??? Can NS protest on this restriction? There are no restrictions on religious freedom in Hong Kong. That is how China thinks about Muslims in general and Pakis think they are great friends.

China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang - World - DAWN.COM

BEIJING: China has banned civil servants, students and teachers in its mainly Muslim Xinjiang region from taking part in Ramazan fasting, government websites said, prompting condemnation from an exile group on Wednesday.

China’s ruling Communist party is officially atheist, and for years has restricted fasting in Xinjiang, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority.

Xinjiang sees regular and often deadly clashes between Uighurs and state security forces, and Beijing has blamed recent deadly attacks elsewhere in China on militants seeking independence for the resource-rich region.

Rights groups blame tensions on religious and cultural restrictions placed on Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in the vast area, which abuts Central Asia.

Several government departments posted notices on their websites in recent days banning fasting during Ramazan, which began this weekend. During the holy month, the faithful fast from dawn to dusk and strive to be more pious.

The commercial affairs bureau of Turfan city said on its website Monday that “civil servants and students cannot take part in fasting and other religious activities”.

The state-run Bozhou Radio and TV university said on its website that it would “enforce the ban on party members, teachers, and young people from taking part in Ramazan activities”.

“We remind everyone that they are not permitted to observe a Ramazan fast,“ it added.

A weather bureau in Qaraqash county in western Xinjiang said on its website that “in accordance with instructions from higher authorities”, it “calls on all current and retired staff not to fast during Ramazan”.

A state office which manages the Tarim River basin posted pictures of its staff wearing traditional Uighur “doppa” caps tucking into a group meal on Saturday.

“Although the meal coincided with the Muslim festival of Ramazan, the cadres who took part expressed a positive attitude and will lead the non-fasting,” it said.

China has in the past said that restrictions on fasting are meant to ensure the health of government employees.

Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the exiled World Uyghur Congress, cited local sources as saying that authorities encouraged Uighurs to eat free meals on Monday, and inspected homes to check if the fast was being observed.

“China taking these kinds of coercive measures, restricting the faith of Uighurs, will create more conflict,” he said.

“We call on China to ensure religious freedom for Uighurs and stop political repression of Ramadan. "

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Chalo chalo Xinjiang chalo.

Ok ok I keed,I keed.

Pakistan koi islam ka thekedaar hai? What the ban had had anything to do with our relationship when China. It’s ok to be friends with them than with jallad sifat hypocrite KSA

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

Wow. Imagine if China really took over the world....

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

I was not comparing KSA with China. I was talking about religious freedom. Even according to American constitution, "You can practice any religion or you may not". Even after 911 and OBL, Alquaida BS, Muslims here practice Ramazan freely with no restrictions at all.

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

China does not like the rising movement of Islam, specially the one from uzbekistan.

Kidher gaye sab naam-nehad molviS? China ke khilaaf boltay kyon nai? Paisay leke baighairat ban gaye?

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

It is indeed very sad to hear China taking such idiotic steps. Read on BBC that they are even airing commercials on how fasting can be dangerous for health. Even though the matter is political in nature as there are no restriction on fasting in other provinces of China, it is however a very foolish way for Chinese government to deal with the situation in Xinjiang. It is bound to further escalate the tensions between Uighurs and govt.

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

Once upon a time Pakistan was considered as ‘Fort of Islam’ it was what we learned in our history and social studies text books. Teachers were proud to declare that notion. And now, it has converted to “Mo-an Jo Darho” (mountain of dead) of Islam.

**Can Islamic Republic Government of Pakistan at least register a protest? Or spunk the word Islam from the constitution of Pakistan. Don’t behave like hypocrite like “Adullah Bin Ubai”. An elected government of “Registani Panchhis” should have some balls, who were were recently supporters of Islamist, are quiet. jaisay saanp soong gaya ho. **

Similarly champions of Islam, JI, JUI, KSA, IK and who portrait themselves as lovers of Islam ‘un ki bolti banda hay’. Last but not the least, where are HR organizations?

**Had Pakistani government put such ban on Qadianis, Hindus, Christians etc, log us ka band ab tak bhaja daitay. **

Breaking up with China? - Blogs - DAWN.COM

It has been a long-standing love affair and there are numbers to prove it.

According to a Pew Research Center survey done just last year, the only country that loves China more than China itself, is Pakistan. Now, suddenly, there is news that threatens to fray these bonds of affection.

**According to news reports, the Chinese Communist Party which has long placed restrictions on fasting in the Chinese Muslim province of Xinjiang has issued a ban on fasting. A Government website announced that all teachers, all students, and all civil servants would be banned from fasting in the month of Ramazan.
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The ban is a sudden and severe curb on religious freedom in a province already often beleaguered by religious clashes and political unrest.

In one part of the region, retired school teachers were posted outside mosques to prevent students from entering the premises. In another, a school website announced that fasting could not be permitted because it was detrimental to student health.

**The Bureau of Forestry in Xinjiang’s Zhaosu County held an event the day before Ramazan began in which party affiliates signed pledges saying that they and their family members would desist from fasting.
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A weather bureau in the Hotan area of the province went even further announcing on its website that all Muslim employees would be required to sign a letter saying that they would not be fasting.

**China does not have a stellar record of respecting the rights of minority religions. But this new ban and its accompanying restrictions are the most blatant curb on the freedom to practice religion seen in the country in recent days.
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Back in 2012: ‘China discourages fasting for Uighur Muslims’

At the same time, there is China’s long record of aid and alliance with Pakistan.

**Not only has China been a longtime supporter of Pakistan’s nuclear program, it has recently also pledged to help bolster Pakistan’s civilian nuclear power capacity over the next five years. This includes the construction of a 2200MW nuclear power complex in Karachi that is forecasted to cost over 10 billion dollars.
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China is also Pakistan’s largest supplier of military equipment and Beijing operates the strategic port of Gwadar in the Balochistan province.

**On the civilian end, the two countries enjoy a free trade agreement, an accord signed last year created the “Pak-China Economic Corridor” The project which involved the construction of a 200 km tunnel, would connect Pakistan ironically to the very location of the problem, the Chinese Muslim province of Xinjiang.
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**As a Muslim country, Pakistan has been eager to stand up to the injustices committed against Muslims anywhere in the world. In most cases, these denunciations, whether they are of veil bans in France or pogroms in Gujarat, oft have not posed much of a challenge to the country’s strategic and economic interests.
**
This issue with China; its outright banning of what is a basic tenet of the Muslim faith may prove to be a trickier proposition.

From last year: ‘Chinese anti-veil ‘beauty’ campaign sows ugly tensions’

Used to denouncing only the West and India, Pakistanis ignore the racism and human rights abuses perpetrated by those they consider to be their ‘friends’.

In this respect, the condition of Muslims in Xinjiang requires the solidarity of others who believe in their rights of free exercise and the injustice of this ban.

At the same time, China’s actions against its Muslims are not that different from Pakistan’s indifference toward its own religious minorities.

Pakistani Hindus and Christians, while not facing outright bans, are used to being hounded, harassed and even killed. Viewed from this lens then, the Chinese and Pakistani positions on minorities are perhaps not that far apart; the difference only in the detail of which minority, Muslim, Hindu or Christian, bears the brunt of an intolerant state.

Hard as it may be on the poor Muslims of Xinjiang, this ban on fasting may not bring a break-up between Pakistan and China, becoming instead the wilful compromise on which marriages of convenience are built.

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

^ so you basically want Pakistan to continue on with being 'want-to-be-worldwide-theykedaar of Islam'? You hate local theykedars of Islam but at same time you want Pakistan to act global theykedaar? We need to get our house in order before venturing out and taking on the global role.

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

^^^^No. I did not say that. Can't Pakistan adopt a balanced approach? Such universal restrictions are clear cut violation of human rights. Pakistan being a Muslim or so called Muslim country, should at least register a protest to prove that it is a so called Muslim country.

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

What China is doing there is their internal matter, Pakistan should not do it 'alone'. If this needs to be raised then other 'Muslim' countries need to raise it from one platform for China to ponder upon such. Pakistan may be facilitating China with good transportation logistics to mid-east (or even farther) but it is still a minute player who can't raise its voice on such an issue. If Pakistan raises its voice then all blame of any related violence/extremism/local-protests will be blamed on Pakistan.

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

first, Pakistan ko pehle apni dhoti sambhalne den. Even if they protest on this, would anybody care? Why not become robust enough first so that you may be respected in entire world.

Second you cannot even compare freedom in US to the one in China. No match.

Infact not only China, religious freedom is nonexistent in Russia, some parts of Europe as well as Asia like Burma etc. Its unfortunate but there is nothing much you can do unless the country becomes powerful enough to stare in their eyes.

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

Imagine something like this happening in India or the US !! Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis would be out on the streets setting everything on fire and calling for retaliation against hindus/christians.

But it is China - Pakistan's fraand - so let us look the other way!! Such hypocrisy.

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

There is no need for protest ... Pakistan can ask China humbly and plead for the safety of the Chinese Muslims and to allow them to practice their rites.

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

Pehlay apnay manjey thalley dang phero ;)

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

I don't agree. Hong Kong has full freedom including continuation of market economy. Why different attitude with Muslims?

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

HongKong is a free port and was designed to be a hub for business purposes. They dont wana put any limitations on most of the things cuz otherwise it'd lead to demonstrations, violence etc which would kill the purpose.
Now the question about different attitude, its a straight forward explaination that they are scared of muslims. They know what muslims are capable of. The kind of system China has, they become severe dictator to anything they see coming as an opposition of what they suggest

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

One thing is clear, no amount of Human Rights lecturing will move China and prompt her to reform. The West has been trying and trying for so long.

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

Its not so much as China not responding to it, it is more about the way west approaches it. Human Rights is just a byline, while everything is business as usual. US had about $500B in trade with China and has been increasing year on year. The whole Human Rights thing is only for show. They use it as a negotiation ploy for other things they need, for eg. buy China's silence when they wage illegal wars.

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

When arms and terrorism become synonyms to Islam.. what else would you hope for? In Europe they banned mosques and hijab and in China they banned fasting... we asked for it... we are worst of all nations infact worse than Jews... because when it comes to education, we are way behind then any other country, when it comes to humanity, well it does not exist within muslims unless you have white skin or western passport, if you talk about inventions and development and industrialization... we don't stand a chance... but when it comes to violence... yup we are undisputed leaders... no matter if it is chopping head of our own muslim brothers or raping our on gals... we left no stone unturned..

yet we complain why they have double standards for us... the question should be, why we have double standards for ourselves than complain... even then we don't have right to complain... the uneducated, illiterate nations and religions are treated this way... no surprises here

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Re: China restricts Ramazan fasting in Xinjiang

and where did I suggest that Pakistan take to streets when France put a ban on hijab (for example)? :) ... Its your imaginary hypocrisy causing a blinding effect, lets open the eyes first. Besides I do not believe China claims to be a 'secular' country as does India or US, or does it?