Chinese authorities in the troubled northwestern region of Xinjiang have ordered mosques frequented by mostly Muslim ethnic minority Uyghurs to use the holy month of Ramadan to publicize Beijing's anti-terrorism campaign, according to an exile Uyghur group.
The municipal government in the regional capital Urumqi has ordered mosques to "propagandize" China's anti-terrorism policies on the eve of the beginning of Ramadan on Saturday, and just ahead of the fifth anniversary of deadly ethnic riots that left nearly 200 people dead in 2009, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) told RFA.
Muslim Uyghurs will begin a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting and prayers on Saturday amid increased surveillance from neighborhood committee and security officials, as well as newly installed cameras, WUC spokesman Dilxat Raxit said.
"Between 10 and 18 security personnel have been stationed inside every mosque in the city for surveillance," Raxit said. "Also, all mosques are being required to ensure that the surveillance cameras installed there are in normal working order."
He said restrictions would be extended to Uyghurs at schools and colleges across the city.
"Students will have to attend 'patriotic study' classes, while schools are required to organize meals for students to ensure they don't fast or attend any illegal religious activities," Raxit said.
He said neighborhood-level officials have had all vacation canceled.
"[These] officials won't be allowed to take leave during Ramadan, and they will have to work a seven-day week," Raxit said in an interview. "They will have to keep watch to see whether Uyghurs take part in religious activities during Ramadan."
"There was also a directive issued that calls for them ... to enter and search people's homes during the Ramadan period," Raxit said.
"Surveillance teams are being set up in every town and village to carry out sudden-strike searches of Uyghur households, to see if they are holding any unauthorized gatherings," he said.
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