Muslim religious ceremonies increasingly restricted, banned in China: RFA
World
Mon, 1 Feb 2021 17:56 GMT
Officials say religious ceremonies are increasingly restricted or even banned outrightUyghurs are losing circumcision traditions under China’s Xinjiang policies. Authorities in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) are severely restri...
Officials say religious ceremonies are increasingly restricted or even banned outright
Uyghurs are losing circumcision traditions under China’s Xinjiang policies. Authorities in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) are severely restricting the Islamic tradition of circumcision which is a major life-cycle event for Muslim boys, usually between the ages of six and eight, that include a ceremony and reception similar to that of a wedding, with family, friends and neighbors invited to celebrate the event.
However, the restrictions do not stop there. Earlier reporting by RFA (Radio Free Asia) has confirmed that religious wedding rites, nikah, have been heavily restricted in parts of Kashgar for at least the past two years.
In 2015 and 2016, regional authorities even restricted the giving of zakat, or alms—the act of which constitutes one of the five pillars of Islam. Restrictions on almsgiving have effectively prevented Uyghurs from being able to provide financial and social support to one another.
Uyghurs are losing circumcision traditions under China’s Xinjiang policies. Authorities in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) are severely restricting the Islamic tradition of circumcision which is a major life-cycle event for Muslim boys, usually between the ages of six and eight, that include a ceremony and reception similar to that of a wedding, with family, friends and neighbors invited to celebrate the event.
However, the restrictions do not stop there. Earlier reporting by RFA (Radio Free Asia) has confirmed that religious wedding rites, nikah, have been heavily restricted in parts of Kashgar for at least the past two years.
In 2015 and 2016, regional authorities even restricted the giving of zakat, or alms—the act of which constitutes one of the five pillars of Islam. Restrictions on almsgiving have effectively prevented Uyghurs from being able to provide financial and social support to one another.
Reports of restrictions on circumcision and nikah provide the latest examples of what observers say is a bid by authorities to separate Uyghurs from even the most mundane expressions of religious practice and belief.
RFA
