A statement from a website of a grade school in Ruoqiang County can be seen agreeing to China bans ramadan fasting. The statement read, 'Students shall not participate in religious activities; they shall not study scripts or read poems at script and choir classes; they shall not wear any religious emblems; and no parent or others can force students to have religious beliefs or partake in religious activities.'
According to The Telegraph, there have also been statements on local party organisations' websites which agree to act of China bans ramadan fasting. The statements said that members of the officially atheist ruling party should also avoid fasting even though the Ramadan month, which began June. 28 sundown, is observed by Muslims.
A statement on the website of the "Number 3 Grade School" in Ruoqiang County in Xinjiang also said, 'No teacher can participate in religious activities, instill religious thoughts in students or coerce students into religious activities.'
Meanwhile, according to the AP, cities in Xinjiang also in support of China bans ramadan fasting. They have reportedly created news portals stating fasting as harmful to the young students' physical wellbeing. They have also have called in retired teachers to stand guard at mosques so students would be prevented from entering.
On Tuesday, authorities in several Xinjiang communities also held celebrations of the anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party. According to Dilxat Raxit, spokesman in Germany for the rights group World Uyghur Congress, the communities reportedly served food to test if Muslims were really fasting.
Dilxat Raxit told AP in an email, 'This will lead to more conflicts if China uses coercive measures to rule and to challenge Uyghur beliefs.'
China bans ramadan fasting mainly because of violence having escalated in Xinjiang in recent years. The ruling party has been blaming Muslim rebels who claim them wanting independence, while members of the region's Uyghur ethnic group are protesting against religion discrimination and restrictions. The restriction includes banning children from being taken to mosques. This has thus fueled anger towards the ethnic Han Chinese majority. Controls on worship, such as the recent China bans ramadan fasting, are reported as especially sensitive in Xinjiang and Tibet, where religious faith do play a major role in the local culture.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
