07-11-2009, 10:43 PM
XINJIANG RIOTS AND CHINA'S PERSECUTION OF MUSLIMS
http://www.hizb.org.uk/hizb/resources/ne...slims.html
Since Sunday, Uighur Muslims have clashed with groups of Han Chinese and Chinese security forces in the Xinjiang capital, Urumqi.
Though Chinese officials say 156 people - mostly ethnic Han Chinese - died in Sunday's violence, Uighur groups say many more died and that most of the dead were Uighurs. On Tuesday about 200 Uighur women faced off against riot police to appeal for more than 1,400 people arrested over Sunday's violence to be freed. Later hundreds of Han Chinese marched through the streets of Urumqi smashing shops and stalls belonging to Uighurs.
Since April 1996 some 57,000 Uighur Muslims had been arrested and about 1,700 of them executed. They Chinese government also stepped up a crackdown on ‘unauthorised’ religious activity. China's summary execution of 30 Uighur in February 1997 was particularly barbaric.
Such barbarism never quelled the spirit of the Muslims of China. They continued defiantly to identify themselves as Muslims, despite the
killings and despite the public burning and banning of the Qur'an. This
defiance is deeply rooted in their Islamic heritage.
The Communist Crusade Against Islam
This oppression has the objective of stripping the Muslims of their Islamic identity. Soon after the Communist take-over in 1949, the Mao government set about dividing the Muslims into nationalities so they would identify with their 'ethnic' origin and not their 'Muslim' identity.
Aside from the physical attacks, Muslims have been subject to a constant attack on their Islamic identity. The period of the so called Cultural Revolution (1966-76) showed the attitudes and policies of the Communists. This can simply be summarised by two posters which appeared in Peking (later to be called Beijing) in 1966. These called for the abolition of Islamic practices. Muslims were also banned from learning their written language during the Cultural Revolution. This language incorporates the Arabic script and appears influenced by Arabic, Turkish and Farsi. This change was critical as it distanced Muslims from the Arabic language, the language of the Qur'an, a tactic used by many enemies of Islam, including Mustapha Kamal, the man who abolished the Khilafah. During this era many Mosques were closed down as the communists released their venom against Islam and the Muslims.
The policy of ethnic (Muslim) cleansing has continued today. Han Chinese have been moved to settle in the region in a further attempt to make the province have a Non-Muslim majority. Back in 1949 the Han population constituted a mere 2-3% of the total population, now they represent around half of the population and control most businesses.
Reaction of Muslim governments
While the world witnesses the oppression of our brothers and sisters in Xinjiang, little condemnation has been heard from the Saudi, Egyptian, Turkish or other so called Muslim rulers who prefer to maintain lucrative contracts with the Beijing government rather than speak up for Islam and Muslims. We must continue to highlight the suffering of the Muslims of Xinjiang, make dua that Allah (swt) eases their suffering and account the Muslim rulers who ignore their plight.
http://www.hizb.org.uk/hizb/resources/ne...slims.html
Since Sunday, Uighur Muslims have clashed with groups of Han Chinese and Chinese security forces in the Xinjiang capital, Urumqi.
Though Chinese officials say 156 people - mostly ethnic Han Chinese - died in Sunday's violence, Uighur groups say many more died and that most of the dead were Uighurs. On Tuesday about 200 Uighur women faced off against riot police to appeal for more than 1,400 people arrested over Sunday's violence to be freed. Later hundreds of Han Chinese marched through the streets of Urumqi smashing shops and stalls belonging to Uighurs.
Since April 1996 some 57,000 Uighur Muslims had been arrested and about 1,700 of them executed. They Chinese government also stepped up a crackdown on ‘unauthorised’ religious activity. China's summary execution of 30 Uighur in February 1997 was particularly barbaric.
Such barbarism never quelled the spirit of the Muslims of China. They continued defiantly to identify themselves as Muslims, despite the
killings and despite the public burning and banning of the Qur'an. This
defiance is deeply rooted in their Islamic heritage.
The Communist Crusade Against Islam
This oppression has the objective of stripping the Muslims of their Islamic identity. Soon after the Communist take-over in 1949, the Mao government set about dividing the Muslims into nationalities so they would identify with their 'ethnic' origin and not their 'Muslim' identity.
Aside from the physical attacks, Muslims have been subject to a constant attack on their Islamic identity. The period of the so called Cultural Revolution (1966-76) showed the attitudes and policies of the Communists. This can simply be summarised by two posters which appeared in Peking (later to be called Beijing) in 1966. These called for the abolition of Islamic practices. Muslims were also banned from learning their written language during the Cultural Revolution. This language incorporates the Arabic script and appears influenced by Arabic, Turkish and Farsi. This change was critical as it distanced Muslims from the Arabic language, the language of the Qur'an, a tactic used by many enemies of Islam, including Mustapha Kamal, the man who abolished the Khilafah. During this era many Mosques were closed down as the communists released their venom against Islam and the Muslims.
The policy of ethnic (Muslim) cleansing has continued today. Han Chinese have been moved to settle in the region in a further attempt to make the province have a Non-Muslim majority. Back in 1949 the Han population constituted a mere 2-3% of the total population, now they represent around half of the population and control most businesses.
Reaction of Muslim governments
While the world witnesses the oppression of our brothers and sisters in Xinjiang, little condemnation has been heard from the Saudi, Egyptian, Turkish or other so called Muslim rulers who prefer to maintain lucrative contracts with the Beijing government rather than speak up for Islam and Muslims. We must continue to highlight the suffering of the Muslims of Xinjiang, make dua that Allah (swt) eases their suffering and account the Muslim rulers who ignore their plight.