On September 23, 2014, the Intermediate People’s Court of Urumqi found defendant Ilham Tohti guilty of separatism in the (2014) Wu Intermediate Criminal First Instance No. 100 Criminal Judgment, and sentenced him to life imprisonment, deprivation of political rights for life, and confiscation of all personal property. See: Ilham Tohti Criminal Judgment as Summarized by the Supreme People's Court. In its summary of the judgment, the Supreme People's Court cited three articles used as evidence against Tohti in his trial:
- The article "A Group of Han Students Assaulted Uyghur Students at the Central University for Nationalities," which it said "maliciously created ethnic tension."
- The "Summary of Typical Cases of Deprivation and Violation of the Freedom of Religious Belief of Xinjiang Uyghur People," which it said "libeled the Chinese government as engaging in long-term repressive suppression and restriction of religious freedom in Xinjiang, and infringing on legal religious rights" and "aggressively attacked China's ethnic and religious policies."
- The article "The 6.26 Incident and the Myth of Multi-ethnic Harmonious Coexistence," which it said attacked the government, distorted the truth, and incited ethnic hatred.
In order to provide context for Ilham Tohti's conviction, translations of what is believed to be those articles are provided below. The original Chinese language sources for these articles were:
A Group of Han Students Assaulted Uyghur Students at the Central University for Nationalities
Time: 2013/04/26 Column: News Editor: admin
Uyghur Online Newsletter (Correspondent Tömür)
On the 24th, a group of Han students beat Uyghur students at the Central University for Nationalities. A Uyghur student was severely injured.
A Uyghur student from the Central University for Nationalities revealed to Uyghur Online that on the 24th a Uyghur student named Maimatijiang was beaten by four Han roommates in the dormitory. Maimatijiang was severely injured. He is now receiving treatment in the hospital. His eye was severely injured and the doctor said that he might be permanently blind.
It is understood that the victim was a student from the Uyghur Language and Literature Department of the Central University for Nationalities, and the perpetrators were Han students from the Uyghur Language and Literature Department. There were eight people in the dormitory, all of whom were students from the Uyghur Language and Literature Department. Four of them were Uyghur students. The other 4 people were Han nationality. On the 24th, the two sides had a quarrel in the dormitory and four Han students beat Maimatijiang. The other three Uyghur students in the dormitory were not there at the time of the incident. Four violent Han students were taken away by the police. Three of them were released and one was still in the police station.
The Department of Uyghur Language and Literature of the Central University for Nationalities began to recruit Han students beginning in 2011. The classes these Han students attend are separate from ordinary students in the Department of Uyghur Language and Literature. They are called "level zero classes." However, these Han students live together with the Uyghur students.
It was reported that after the incident, a counselor at the Uyghur Language and Literature Department hid the violent Han students and tried to conceal the evidence at the scene. As a result, the scene of the crime was disturbed. The counselor also sheltered three other Han students and said, "If anyone asks about it, just say that you were breaking up a scuffle."
After the incident, the emotionally excited Uyghur students of the Central University for Nationalities asked the school to deal with the incident and punish the perpetrators, but the school has not yet given a convincing explanation or disposition. It is reported that the Central University for Nationalities is worried about group conflicts between Uyghur and Han students and strictly blocked the news.
According to another source, on the 22nd, about 30 Han students ganged up on a Uyghur student at Beijing Jiaotong University.
In fact, these two cases are not isolated cases. In recent years, Uyghurs in the Mainland have been beaten from time to time, including Uyghur merchants doing business in the Mainland. The Uyghur students at the Central University for Nationalities were beaten until they were seriously injured one day after the "Bachu Incident." It is currently not clear whether this incident is related to the "Bachu Incident."
Uyghur Online Report: The Current Status of Uyghur Religious Freedom
Time: 2013/03/09 Column: Yiliham Tohti
A Brief Discussion of the Status Quo of Religious Freedom of the Uyghur Ethnic Group
Uyghur Online Report
Ilham Tohti, Erhat
[Abstract]: In the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang authorities regard religious beliefs as "disharmonious factors," and in the name of stopping "illegal religious activities," they have strengthened their religious control and pressure on Uyghurs. This approach of the authorities has long been met with dissatisfaction and opposition from Uyghurs. These practices and policies of the Xinjiang authorities have created antagonisms between the Uyghurs and the government, and has intensified the conflicts between Uyghurs and Han. Many Uyghurs have always been dissatisfied with the authorities' policies, but due to the general environment, they dare to be angry but dare not speak out. While the policies of the Xinjiang authorities seem to have played a deterrent effect, in fact these policies are accumulating dissatisfaction among Uyghurs. If the Xinjiang authorities continue this extreme religious policy, even if it will not cause strong resistance from Uyghurs for the time being, in the long run it will deepen the barriers between ethnic groups and deepen the dissatisfaction of Uyghurs, which may eventually lead to a series of resistance and conflicts with Uyghurs.
[Keywords]: Uyghurs, religious freedom, restrictions
China is a multi-religious country. Chinese religious believers mainly believe in Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Christianity. According to incomplete statistics, there are more than 100 million believers of various religions in China, more than 85,000 venues for religious activities, about 300,000 religious clerics, and more than 3,000 religious organizations.[1]
Chinese officials say that citizens can freely choose, express their beliefs, and show their religious identity. In the "Constitution of the People's Republic of China," freedom of religious belief is a basic right of citizens. Article 36 of the Constitution stipulates: "Citizens of the People's Republic of China have freedom of religious belief." "No state agency, social organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in or not to believe in a religion, or discriminate against citizens who believe in religion or citizens who do not believe in religion." "The state protects normal religious activities." It also stipulates: "No one may use religion to engage in activities that disrupt social order, harm the health of citizens, or hinder the national education system." "Religious groups and religious affairs are not subject to the domination of foreign powers."[2]
China's "Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law," "General Principles of Civil Law," "Education Law," "Labor Law," "Compulsory Education Law," "People's Congress Election Law," "Village Committee Organization Law," "Advertisement Law," and other laws also stipulate that citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs, have the right to vote and to be elected; the legal property of religious groups is protected by law; education is separated from religion, and citizens regardless of religious beliefs have equal opportunities to receive education in accordance with the law; people of all ethnic groups must respect each other's language, customs, and religious beliefs; citizens shall not be discriminated against in employment because of different religious beliefs; advertisements and trademarks must not contain content that discriminates against ethnic groups or religions.
However, for a long time the restrictions on, and suppression of, religion by the Xinjiang authorities has become more prominent and serious. The Xinjiang authorities’ restrictions on Uyghurs’ freedom of religion and their own local regulations and policies are contrary to China’s Constitution, relevant laws and regulations, and China’s ethnic policies.
1. The Current Situation of Restrictions on the Religious Freedom of the Uyghurs
In the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, religious control and suppression policies against Uyghurs have existed for a long time. The Xinjiang authorities regard religious beliefs as "disharmonious factors" and in the name of stopping "illegal religious activities", they have strengthened their religious control over, and pressure on, Uyghurs. Since the "July 5 Incident," the Xinjiang authorities have strengthened restrictions on the religious freedom of Uyghurs, and the religious freedom situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has rapidly deteriorated. In recent years, the Xinjiang authorities have continuously strengthened their religious suppression, and their religious control policies have been continuously upgraded. The Xinjiang authorities' religious suppression has increased in breadth and depth.
As the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region’s religious control policies continue to escalate, it not only restricts Uyghurs from growing beards and wearing headscarves, but also links these policies with the ability to enjoy subsistence allowances, and prohibits non-governmental organizations from the Hajj, and strictly restricts the number of Hajj. Only government personnel can go to Hajj. The authorities also forced individual employees of private enterprises to sign a pledge that interferes with citizens’ freedom of religious belief. Forcing employers and employees in some places in Xinjiang to sign a guarantee banning fasting, including that they and their relatives are not allowed to participate in Ramadan activities, and offenders will be expelled from public office. It also organized Ramadan stability maintenance teams at the village and county levels to strictly check gatherings and religious activities during Ramadan. In addition, Communist Party cadres are assigned to be stationed in mosques, mosques are subjected to official interviews every week, and the government stipulates the content of the Friday sermons.
As the Xinjiang authorities stepped up their religious pressure, there were even serious violations of human rights that prohibited women wearing veils from entering public places such as hospitals, state agencies, and shopping malls. In addition, the Xinjiang authorities have also strengthened the investigation and punishment of youths in the Uyghur Autonomous Region who participate in religious activities. They have not only strengthened the atheism education for Uyghur youths in schools, but also adopted compulsory measures such as requiring students to sign a pledge not to participate in religious activities. It is not uncommon for Uyghur college students to be warned, suspended, or even expelled from school because of their worship.
In recent years, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has also seen strong suppression and dilution of people’s freedom of religion. For example, in December 2011, Dunmaili Street in Yining City launched a propaganda campaign called "Reduce Religious Consciousness, Advocate a Civilized and Healthy Life," the goal of which was to "completely eliminate" local ethnic minority women and young people wearing clothing with obvious Islamic colors (such as long robes or black clothing, etc.) and "abnormal phenomena" such as men growing long beards and people going about veiled. In addition, in the Uyghur Autonomous Region inspections of mosques and other religious venues are extremely strict. If minors are found entering the mosque, the Imam and the person in charge of the mosque will be punished.
In addition, the Xinjiang authorities have also delineated 26 manifestations of "illegal" religious activities. The content, which already violates the Constitution and laws, includes: unauthorized editing, translation, publishing, printing, copying, distribution, sale, and dissemination of illegal religious publications and audio-visual products; using the Internet and mobile phones to spread religion; using satellite receivers to watch overseas religious radio and television programs; going abroad for Hajj without authorization; and accepting religious donations from foreign organizations or individuals.
Such unilateral and extreme local policies issued by the Xinjiang authorities not only violate the Constitution and related laws, but also seriously violate the human rights of the Uyghurs. Such extreme practices by the Xinjiang authorities continue to arouse dissatisfaction among Uyghurs.
2. Restrictions on the Religious Freedom of the Uyghurs are Different from those for other Muslims
In the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Xinjiang authorities have stepped up religious suppression, but other domestic Muslims will generally not be subject to such restrictions and suppression. Take the Hui Muslims in the Hui area as an example. Although the inland Hui people are also facing a series of problems such as the Hajj, there are not as many restrictions on religious activities of inland Hui Muslims as there are in Xinjiang. For example, inland Hui Muslims will not be forced to eat during Ramadan; the airports and other public venues in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region have worship rooms exclusively for Muslims; and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region also has Islamic Banks. Compared with Turkic Uyghur Muslims, the treatment of Hui Muslims in terms of religion is relatively relaxed, and the religious atmosphere and religious policies in the Uyghur region cannot be compared with the Hui regions.
In the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the Xinjiang authorities’ regulations on restricting religious freedom appear to target Uyghurs. Muslims such as Kazakh, Kirgiz, and Hui in Xinjiang do not face such restrictions.
3. The Impact of Restrictions on Uyghur's Religion
The Xinjiang authorities have been taking the wrong path on religious issues, and they have moved further and further to the left. All kinds of measures to strengthen restrictions and suppress religious freedom have put significant pressure on people of faith, and there is a strong correlation between these policies and many of mass incidents in Xinjiang in recent years.
China's State Administration of Religion recently issued a letter saying that it prohibits the use of administrative orders to deal with religious issues, and that simple and brute means cannot be used when with people of faith and believers. Nevertheless, in the Uygur Autonomous Region the use of administrative orders to deal with religious issues in a simple and brutal manner has become the modus operandi of the Xinjiang authorities.
In the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the Xinjiang authorities regard religious beliefs as "disharmonious factors" and strengthen their religious control and pressure on Uyghurs in the name of stopping "illegal religious activities." This approach of the authorities has long been met with dissatisfaction and opposition from Uyghurs. These practices and policies of the Xinjiang authorities have created antagonisms between the Uyghurs and the government, and intensified the conflicts between Uyghurs and Han. Many Uyghurs have always been dissatisfied with the authorities' policies, but due to the general environment, they dare to be angry but dare not speak out. While the policies of the Xinjiang authorities seem to have played a deterrent effect, in fact these policies are accumulating dissatisfaction among Uyghurs. If the Xinjiang authorities continue this extreme religious policy, even if it will not cause strong resistance from Uyghurs for the time being, in the long run it will deepen the barriers between ethnic groups and deepen the dissatisfaction of Uyghurs, which may eventually lead to a series of resistance and conflicts with Uyghurs.
At the same time this is happening, the Xinjiang authorities are wantonly suppressing the religious, cultural, and political life of Uyghurs, which has caused anger and dissatisfaction among Uyghurs. If the Xinjiang authorities continue to restrict the freedom of religious belief of the Uyghurs, continue to suppress and marginalize Uyghurs, and Uyghurs cannot obtain channels to express their dissatisfaction, it may prompt more Uyghurs to become radicalized, and some Uyghurs may resort to violence. A series of incidents in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in recent years have proved this point.
4. Conclusion
In real life, due to the special cohesive power of faith, Islam has penetrated into all aspects of Uyghur culture. Uyghurs have believed in Islam for thousands of years. Uyghurs’ ideology, historical legends, language, literature and art, architecture, sculpture, astronomical calendar, medical techniques, etc. are all deeply imprinted with Islam. At the same time, Islam has also become an important element of Uyghur psychology. Islam has been deeply immersed in the spirit of the Uighur people over the course of its long history. Therefore, Islam is not only a belief for the Uyghurs, but also a part of the Uyghur ethnic culture and way of being, to the point of being a way of life.
But at present, the policies adopted by the government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to suppress freedom of religious belief and some local policies are not only disrespectful to Uyghurs and their culture, but also violate China's Constitution and related laws. Xinjiang authorities use of a series of brutal means to deal with Uyghurs, restricting and suppressing the religious freedom of Uyghurs, is inconsistent with the country's ethnic and religious policies.
In today's world, the trend in the international community is to protect the rights of ethnic minorities. "The protection of the rights of ethnic minorities is not only an issue of human rights and development in the world today, but also an issue of the unity, stability, and world peace of sovereign states. 3] In the international community, the content of ethnic minority rights is more extensive and specific. In addition, all sovereign countries have strengthened their legislation to protect the rights of ethnic minorities. Today, when the protection of the rights of ethnic minorities has become a trend, the Xinjiang authorities' restrictions and suppression of Uyghurs in all aspects, including religion, runs counter to this trend.
Therefore, in summary, the Xinjiang authorities should stop restricting Uyghurs’ peaceful religious activities, stop their gross interference in Uyghurs’ traditional religious activities, respect the Constitution and relevant laws and regulations, and allow all people with religious beliefs throughout the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, including Uyghurs, to have the right to freedom of worship as stipulated in the Constitution and related laws.
Reference Materials:
1. Hu Xingdong, "Trends in the Protection of Minority Rights in the International Community," Journal of Yunnan University for Nationalities, Vol. 23, No. 4, July 2006.
2. "Overview of Religions in China": Government Portal of the PRC (http://www.gov.cn/test/2005-06/22/content_8406.htm).
3. "Uyghur Online" website (uighurbiz.net).
[1], [2] "Overview of Religions in China": Government Portal of the PRC (http://www.gov.cn/test/2005-06/22/content_8406.htm)
[3] Hu Xingdong (Trends in the Protection of Minority Rights in the International Community)
Supplement: An Overview of Typical Cases of Deprivation and Violation of the Freedom of Religious Belief of Xinjiang Uyghurs
Author: Ilham Tohti
Respecting and protecting freedom of religious belief is a long-term basic policy of the government of China in dealing with religious issues. As a citizen’s right, freedom of religious belief is guaranteed by the Constitution and laws.
As an autonomous ethnic group in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, almost all the people believe in Islam. According to the Constitution, they should have the right to freedom of religious which should not be subject to interference by any organization or individual.
Religion occupies a very important position in Uyghur culture and in the daily life of Uyghurs. Since the 1950s, the Xinjiang government has attempted to eliminate the ethnic consciousness, culture, and religious heritage of the Uyghur people. The government has adopted various measures to interfere with Uyghur's religious freedom. For a long time, authorities have interferred in the religious rights of Uyghurs, and Xinjiang authorities have imposed religious pressure on Uyghurs and other religious people on the grounds of cracking down on “illegal religious activities” to restrict their legal religious rights. The deprivation and violation of the freedom of religious belief of Uyghurs in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region can be summarized as follows:
1. The Formulation of Unconstitutional Local Policies and Regulations
As defined in Article 26 of the "Illegal Religious Activities," this provision violates the relevant provisions of the "Constitution" on religious freedom. See the link for details: http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/10660.
2. Prohibitions on Prayer
Prayer is one of the five pillars of Islam, and one of the religious obligations that believers must fulfill. In addition, Islam recommends that children be familiarized with prayer at the age of seven and begin praying at the age of ten.
There is a warning sign in front of every mosque in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region: State officials, party members, league members, people under 18, and women are prohibited from entering the mosque to engage in religious activities. (See photo below)
Photo: Minors and school students are not allowed to enter
In addition, local departments in Xinjiang also prohibit believers from praying in public places. The picture below is a "warm reminder" formulated by the Xinhe County Health Bureau: Naimazi (prayer) and reciting scripture are prohibited in public places.
(An announcement from Kezhou People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.)
In addition, there has never been dedicated spaces for prayer in government departments, public security departments, schools, hospitals, various business halls, and office spaces in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. This is very inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, and it can be said that the right of believers to engage in religious activities is not respected at all.
Case: Two students from Shisanhu Village, Samuyuzi Village, Yining County, entered the mosque to worship. The authorities imposed punishment on the Beizhuang Mosque and the people involved. (News link: http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/7167)
3. Interference in Fasting
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is Ramadan. According to the teachings of Islam, every healthy adult Muslim must fulfill the obligation of fasting (from dawn to sunset) during this month.
Cases:
1) According to the Associated Press report on August 3, 2012, several municipal, county, and township governments in Xinjiang posted orders on their websites to prohibit or prevent members of the Communist Party of China, civil servants, students, and teachers from fasting during Ramadan. The official explanation is that they are prohibited from fasting for health reasons. (Associated Press: China Prevents Uighur Muslims from Fasting http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/4414)
2) The content of the notice issued by the Akto County Discipline Inspection Commission on August 21, 2009: Party members, cadres, public officials (including retirees), and school students are strictly prohibited from participating in religious activities such as fasting. Once the participants are investigated and punished, they will be dealt with strictly. No exceptions will be tolerated. Party members will be expelled from the Party regardless of whether they are in office or retired, public officials will be fired, and "the four seniors" will lose their qualifications as "the four seniors." Notice on the Supervision of Social Stability Work and the Compliance with Political Discipline by Party Members and Cadres During the "Ramadan" Period (http://www.swdj.gov.cn/10017/10051/10002/2009/736326.htm)
3) Xinjiang authorities forced Uyghur restaurant to open during Ramadan (News Link: http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/1879) [
https://web.archive.org/web/20130901201323/http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/1879]
4. Restrictions the Freedom of Believers to Dress
According to Islamic rules, except their hands and feet, women's bodies, including their hair, are "intimate." They are not allowed to be seen by any man except their biological parents and their husband. They must wear a veil or a hijab when they go out. Uyghur Online’s commentary believes that the religious implications of Uyghur women wearing a headscarf and wearing a veil have some similarities, but wearing a veil is more focused on pursuing a religious belief, whereas wearing a headscarf is more focused on pursuing a kind of beauty, and the religious implications have taken a back seat.
However, various departments in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region restrict women’s freedom to dress in different ways and discriminate against women wearing veils. For example, the slogan of a certain place in Xinjiang: Women wearing veils and giribafu costumes are not welcome in Baghchi Town.
Kashgar City Library prohibits women wearing headscarves, veils, and shawls from entering the library.
(Photo note: There is a discrepancy between Uyghur and Chinese in the picture. The Uyghur says: Those wearing a headscarf, wearing a veil, and wearing a shawl are prohibited from entering the library.)
A hospital in Xinjiang stipulates that people wearing veils, people wearing giribafu costumes, and people under 45 with long beards are prohibited from entering. Worship is prohibited in the hospital.
The Xinjiang authorities also regarded wearing a veil as having an influence on "modern civilized society" and openly discriminate against women who wear a veil. Women wearing veils are forbidden to ride in cars, and they are also forbidden to enter hospitals, schools, shopping malls, and homes for the families of state units. Insurance companies and other units refuse to handle business for women wearing veils.
(Slogan: Ladies, women, please lift the veil, please don't influence modern civilized society, the photo location is Urumqi.)
(Photo note: There is a discrepancy between Uyghur and Chinese in the picture. The Uyghur text says: Please lift your veil when you get on the bus and do not influence modern civilized society. The location of the photo is not specified.)
Case:
1) Kashgar prohibits those wearing headscarves and shawls from entering the library. (http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/10229) [
https://web.archive.org/web/20130528194900/http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/10229]
2) A street in Yining, Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region launched a campaign to "dilute religious consciousness" to eliminate "abnormal phenomena" such as local ethnic minority women and teenagers wearing Arab costumes, the growing of long beards, and going about veiled. (News link: http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/1743) [
https://web.archive.org/web/20130831050346/http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/1743]
5. Restrictions on Believers Studying Religious Knowledge
In the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, except for the very few places designated by the government to study religious knowledge, other places for religious study are designated as "illegal" places for teaching scriptures. Moreover, the government-designated religious knowledge study sites are for the purpose of training Imams (religious affairs personnel of mosques), and ordinary people cannot enter to study.
In addition, local authorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, especially southern Xinjiang, have recently begun conducting searches for religious books, and some places even confiscated the Islamic classic "Quran." Uyghur Online reported on January 13 that according to locals, a Yingjisha County government department used the pretext of offering condolences to conduct a search of the homes of some families, remove all books and pictures relating to Islam, and record the number of worshippers in the homes. (http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/7123)
Related Cases:
1) A Uyghur teenager was arrested for studying the Quran and died mysteriously in a detention center (News Link: http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/3193)
2) Yining People's Court sentenced 7 Hui citizens to three to four years in prison for "using superstition to undermine law enforcement." (News Link: http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/6924)
3) In Yining County, Uyghur Autonomous Region, Muslim children went to a mosque over the holy period (an event to honor the Prophet). After learning this news, the deputy county magistrate called all the Imams of the mosque to hold a meeting and conducted a Cultural Revolution-style struggle session. (News Link: http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/9727) [
https://web.archive.org/web/20130306031954/http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/9727]
6. Limits on Hajj
Hajj is one of the basic tenets of Islam that all believers must abide by. Every adult Muslim who is financially and physically capable has the religious obligation to worship in Mecca.
There are many restrictions on Uyghur Muslims’ Hajj in Xinjiang, and the regulation of passports and cracking down on unorganized Hajj are the most important factors. (Related news: http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/9002) [
https://web.archive.org/web/20130831101915/http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/9002]
7. Forbidding Young People Under 18 to Participate in any Form of Religious Activities, While Schools Conduct Atheism Education
Case: Keqikebulake Primary School in Samyuzi Township, Yining County, Uyghur Autonomous Region issued the "Notice of Legal Provisions for Parents, Teachers and Students Not Allowed to Participate in Religious Activities," prohibiting students from participating in religious activities (News Link: http://www. uighurbiz.net/archives/8732)
8. Mandatory Imposition of Policies to Dilute Religious Consciousness
Case 1: A street in Yining, Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region launched a campaign to "dilute religious consciousness" to eliminate "abnormal phenomena" such as local ethnic minority women and teenagers wearing Arab costumes, the growing of long beards, and going about veiled. (News link: http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/1743 [https://web.archive.org/web/20130831050346/http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/1743])
(Screenshot of Yining Government Network.)
Case 2: In order to dilute the religious atmosphere and purify religious activities, Hotan City prohibited veiled women from entering shopping malls and prohibits shopping malls from selling religious clothing and audio-visual products. (News Link: http://www.uighurbiz.net/archives/3535)
The 6.26 Incident and the Myth of Multi-Ethnic Coexistence
2009-07-01 23:05:29 Author: yarkant Source: Uighur Online
The conflict now appears to have been carried out according to a plan. Originally, it was rumored that it could be resolved after investigation, but no one thought that the matter would turn into a violent conflict. There were many doubts about it.
At present, it can be seen from video and other related materials that a factory in Shaoguan was already in a state of anarchy when the conflict occurred. This gave some extremists the opportunity to kill and loot, and there was no evil that was beyond them. It cannot be ruled out that there will be more ethnic vendettas between Uyghur and Han in the future. This is also the most serious conflict that has erupted since the Xinjiang government organized Uyghur rural laborers (most of whom are unmarried Uyghur women from rural areas) to work in Han areas, and this conflict is likely to continue in other areas. Similar conflicts have occurred between the Uyghur and Han nationalities in the past, but this time the conflict is different. It almost always happens in circumstances where Uyghur migrant workers come to a local area where they have no ties. This inevitably makes me think that these conflicts are all manipulated behind the scenes by a Han extremist organization or force. We have found that the 6.26 incident was more organized than the previous "conflicts." The people involved in the incident were quickly organized, held similar weapons and sticks, and brutally beat Uyghurs at the scene.
But no matter who is behind the organization of these conflicts, their goals have obviously been achieved, and much has been destroyed. Violence against individual ethnic groups is unacceptable. The Uyghur online webmaster issued a statement on the day of the incident, calling on Uyghurs to remain calm and restrained, and refrain from making remarks and statements that intensify contradictions. No one was expecting the 6.26 incident. I was like all kind people in being psychologically unprepared for this. Uyghur online webmaster Ilham Tohti said: This incident will change our thinking. The attack on the Uyghur ethnic group in Shaoguan was intended to "cleanse" and was a signal for Uyghur migrant workers to leave Shaoguan and other Han areas. One cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that the violence was racially motivated. He also said that the local government has the responsibility to protect the rights of everyone. The Xinjiang local government’s policy of large-scale export of Uyghur rural labor to the inland is done for, as people’s lives are being taken in a most tragic way.
At present, Uyghurs have not held a funeral for the deceased (perhaps political interests require that the local government does not allow the funerals, or requires they be held in secret). However, people believe that even at the funeral, what they will hear will be how bad those mainlanders are, and how they should not respond to the government's call to send their children to the far-off lands of the Han... The anger in people's hearts may never subside. The events that took place on 6.26 highlighted the choice faced by the Uyghur people, either to build a society based on the values of tolerance, democracy, and national autonomy, or to live in chaos and suffering.
To quote Ilham Tohti's speech on the 27th:
Suppose that “Xinjiang people stole from the Xuri factory in Shaoguan many times, and the first rape case occurred on June 14. After the victim reported the incident to the factory, the Xinjiang rapist was only fired. There was another rape just a few days later. A female worker in the dormitory area was forcibly dragged into the dormitory by Xinjiang people and raped. The Xinjiang people were released after being detained for only a few days after the incident. It seems that they can be exempt from legal controls. The matter had not subsided when a third rape occurred again. When the case was reported to the security department, the security department refused to accept it."
These statements are true, and the subsequent reaction and mob behavior was simply a crime against innocent Uyghurs!
"In the end, all the Han Chinese could no longer stand it. At around 22:00 on June 25, dozens of people rushed to the Xinjiang people's dormitory with iron rods to beat the Xinjiang people. As soon as the violence broke out, the Xinjiang people also brought out regulated knives to fight. The number of Han people increased from dozens of people at the beginning to more than 300 people. Every Han person was desperate to retaliate against the Xinjiang people. Many Xinjiang people broke through the fences and fled back to the mountains. This continued until three o'clock in the morning when the anti-riot team arrived and fired their guns. The anti-riot team had about 20 military cars and more than 30 police cars. Dozens of people from both groups were seriously injured. According to reports, several Xinjiang people died! The scene was a mass of wolf thorns, with semi-human-sized pools of blood in dozens of places. There are more than 100 dormitory windows broken in the dormitory area, and the fire extinguishers in four dormitories had been taken down to use in the fight, and each dormitory had a total of 7 floors. There were about 200 steel bars scattered on the ground. More than one hundred fire extinguishers were all beaten up and dented. No one could sleep that night. Many people who had just entered the factory and summer workers packed up their bags and left. At 6 o'clock we were near the factory entrance and noticed a Xinjiang person sneaking out. By that time, it seemed that in addition to the factory workers, everyone in the surrounding neighborhoods understood the evil deeds of the Xinjiang people. All the men present surrounded him and beat him, pummeling him with bricks like basketballs! We hadn't been beating him 20 seconds when the anti-riot team rushed to the scene, and when we heard the police we scattered. The Xinjiang guy who had been beaten had fallen down in a pool of blood. It took over 100 sanitation workers in the dormitory area of the Rising Sun Factory two hours to wash away the bloodstains. Lanjz Published on 2009-6-26 17:03 ”
What happened with these Han people? Should the crime of one person (assuming that the situation of reposted by the moderator was true) be borne by all Uyghur migrant workers in the factory or by all Uyghurs? Is it true that "every Han person was desperate to retaliate against the Xinjiang people" even "a Xinjiang person sneaking out" wasn't let go and "all the men present surrounded him and beat him, pummeling him with bricks like basketballs!" To the point where "The Xinjiang guy who had been beaten had fallen down in a pool of blood. It took over 100 sanitation workers in the dormitory area of the Rising Sun Factory two hours to wash away the bloodstains."
What is the logic? A racial vendetta?
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According to the information released by the government in the last two days, the alleged rape of Han girls by Xinjiang people was purely a rumor! But can we conclude from this that the cause of this incident is entirely due to a rumor?
Beijinger Yang Jia killed several policemen in Shanghai. Many Han people supported him online and offline, and even regarded him as a hero in their hearts. A Han surnamed Zhou in Shache County, Xinjiang (where he is still a teacher) molested several Uyghur girls, and when the incident was posted on the Internet by Uyghur Internet users (Xinjiang is the most severely blocked area in China, especially for Uyghurs), there were still many Han people making "cynical remarks." I don’t know how many murders, arson, robberies, rapes...etc. happen every month in Han society? Why haven't we seen mass vendettas due to the different ancestral homes of the "criminals." The reason is simple, they are all Han people!!
So why did the Shaoguan incident (I call it the 6.26 incident) turn into a vendetta against the Uyghurs because of "rumors"? There were rumors of a large-scale ethnic vendetta among two ethnic groups in Kosovo. It was later confirmed that there was an organization behind the rumors and it was all premeditated. So what is hidden behind the 6.26 incident?
I think that the recent blizzards in Guangdong, the natural disasters (earthquakes) in Sichuan, Gansu and other places, as well as the man-made disasters that occur every day in various parts of China, and the vendettas in Shaoguan, have at the very least debunked this myth for us: "That the People’s Republic of China is a paradise for people of all ethnic groups, where society is stable, ethnic groups are harmonious, and there is no ethnic discrimination. Each of the 56 ethnic groups is a flower."
However, as everyone has seen so far, in China's Guangdong, the most typical Han Chinese settlement area, and the so-called most open province in China, under natural and man-made disasters, extremely serious ethnic conflicts have broken out. Is it because they have been whitewashing peace and concealing contradictions in the past? Or is it as the Han people say, "We are all birds of feather who fly our separate ways in the face of difficulties?"
In fact, I think China is just like the Soviet Union, it is something deliberately sculpted by individuals. On the surface, it seems that all ethnic groups are living together in harmony. If there is a foreign attack, all ethnic groups will work together to resist. But the problem is that if the external pressure disappears, the conflicts between various groups and communities will emerge again, and even reach the point of irreconcilability.
For such a country, in order to maintain its own domestic stability, then the managers must find an external pressure. But if this pressure proves to be unreliable or if there are differences in domestic opinions, the conflicts between various groups and communities will suddenly reemerge, and even reach the point of irreconcilability.
Their ethnic unity and friendship are all strategic moves to create conformity to their own ethnic requirements and accomodate their models. Therefore, when you look at these countries' laws regarding ethnic groups, you see the systems never get implemented. On the surface, there is a sense of harmony, but domestically there is mutual suspicion and caution. There is a veneer of unity over a base of division, which is to say there is no confidence in, or ambition for, true respect for all ethnic groups.
