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Source: The Sun, UK
Authorities in Xinjiang have delivered raw pork to Muslim households and threatened to send dissenters to “re-education” camps
By Debbie White
CHINA is forcing Muslims to eat pork and drink booze to show they are “patriotic” as part of a terrifying crackdown on religion.
During the Chinese New Year holiday, officials also expect Muslim households to show emblems of traditional Chinese culture by putting up decorations, say reports.
AP:Associated Press
Authorities in Xinjiang, in China’s northeast, have delivered raw pork to Muslim households, says Radio Free Asia.
Muslims living in the Ili Kazahh Autonomous Prefecture told RFA that city bosses had also invited them to celebratory dinners marking the Chinese New Year, where they would be served pork.
Those refusing to attend were being threatened to be sent to a feared “re-education camp”.
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Hundreds of thousands of Uighurs are being held in these detention centres, and being forced to undergo “deradicalisation” programmes including having to memorise and recite Chinese laws.
The Uighurs are ethnically Turkic Muslims, and about 11 million of them live in western China.
RFA says it has received photos of raw pork being delivered to Muslim households, on the eve of the Year of the Pig.
Pork and alcohol are forbidden in Islam.
An unnamed Muslim told the website: “Kazakh people in Xinjiang have never [eaten pork].
“Starting last year, some people have been forced to eat port so they can celebrate a festival belonging to the Han Chinese.”
THREATENED WITH ‘RE-EDUCATION’
One woman, also speaking anonymously, said that if Muslims refused to hang lanterns or put up other decorations to mark the Chinese New Year, officials “say we are two-faced and they send us to re-education camps”.
Chinese officials use this term – “two-faced” – to target Uighurs and other ethnic minority groups who protest or refuse to take part in such events.
The MailOnline reports that the country’s top Islamic regulatory body, the China Islamic Association, has also ordered all Chinese mosques to raise the national flag to “promote the spirit of patriotism”.
In a letter published at the weekend, it said this action would “further strengthen the understanding of national and civic ideals and promote a spirit of patriotism among Muslims of all ethnic groups.”
STAMPING OUT RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION
It’s the latest in a string of attempts by officials to stymie any form of religious freedom or expression in the country.
The Sun Online reported last year how China was taking extreme measures to wipe out all traces of Christianity, by tearing down posters of Jesus and replacing them with images of President Xi Jinping.
The country’s ruling Communist party wants to eradicate the faith among its 138 billion residents, going as far as banning kids from visiting churches.
The government also forced Chinese Christians to sign contracts renouncing their faith, to help crack down on religious congregations – with video footage showing crosses and Bibles being burned.
According to The Times, the Communist Party began an anti-halal movement to stamp out what it regards as radical religious thoughts shared among the country’s 11 million Uighurs.
The paper said that Beijing is suspicious of all religions, and considers them a threat to party rule.
And there is a particular anxiousness about Islam, which it blames for fuelling militant violence.
Categories: Asia, China, Islam, Islamophobia
It is so upsetting to see that this is what is happening in the world. It doesn’t matter what the race or religion may be, but forcing someone to do something that they would never want to or if it is forbidden in their religion is completely wrong.
It is so sad to know that miserable circumstances. I pray for authorities that may God guide them on right path and they should have stop doning theses things in their countries.
This situation is miserable and it is worthwhile to think about those more than 21 million population of Muslims in China. It is unethical to enforce such doings on someone whose religion doesn’t allow him/her to do. The Chinese government should make laws that make their citizens to practice their religion openly without any implementation of something that contradicts with their religion.
All people should be free to peacefully practice their religion, not forced by the state to break their religious customs. Just because they are Muslim doesn’t make them any less Chinese. Where are the human rights organisations to object to this abuse?
The political scene of world right now is a disaster. It almost feels like very country’s president is trying to show how much worse they can be. Apparently it is normal now for governments to suddenly start playing Big Brother.
Agree with most of the comments. But, what the Muslims need to do for the governments is to show them genuine commitment to human rights and patriotism, what they often call secularism and do every thing to mitigate the scare of the so called Shariah Law.
No matter what the situation is forcing somebody to do something that is forbidden in their religion is never okay. This situation is very upsetting to hear about and the fact that these sort of actions are still present in this time and day is very unfortunate.
There should be no compulsion to practice your beliefs. I hope and pray that Chinese government will consider the situation and respect the beliefs of their citizens.