The leader of China President Xi Jinping has told Chinese officials that they should focus on making sure that Islam within China adheres to Chinese values and the socialist society the Communist Party of China claims to be developing.
The statement came as Xi visited the Xinjiang region, which has been the source of great controversy due to claims that the Chinese government is cracking down on the Muslim majority in the region. Accusations have been made that many Muslims have been forced into re-education camps and that they are subject to strict control and monitoring.
Xi was quoted as saying:
"Enhanced efforts should be made to uphold the principle that Islam in China must be Chinese in orientation, and to adapt religions to socialist society."
Adding:
"The normal religious needs of believers should be ensured, and they should be united closely around the party and the government."
In the statement, Xi warned against the unhealthy development of religion in the country, which is officially atheist. Many of the Muslims within China are regarded as having sympathy for separatist movements that seek to have their own independent states, such as East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which has been behind a number of violent terrorist attacks.
Beijing has continually denied the accusations made by the United States and the European Union that the Uygur Muslims of Xinjiang are mistreated, labelling the accusations as anti-Chinese propaganda. Sources indicate that as many as 1 million Uygur's may have been placed in some form of detention.
China claims that these are not detention camps but that these are de-radicalisation attempts to move young Uygur away from religious extremism and violence.
The UN Human Rights Council chief Michelle Bachelet carried out a visited to the region at the start of the year after lengthy negotiations with the Chinese government. During her visited she raised questions about the internment and crackdown on the Uygur people.
[Based on reporting by: NDTV]
COMMENTS