China Restricts Ramadan Fasting In Muslim Region

China has restricted civil servants, students and children in a mainly-Muslim region from taking part in fasting, government websites said as the holy month started on Monday.China’s ruling Communist

party is officially atheist and for years has banned government employees and minors from fasting in Xinjiang, home to the more than 10 million strong mostly Muslim Uighur minority. It has also
ordered restaurants to stay open.The region sees regular clashes between Uighurs and state security forces, and Beijing has blamed deadly attacks there and elsewhere in China on militants seeking independence for the resource-rich region.Rights groups blame tensions on religious and cultural restrictions placed on Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in the vast area, which abuts Central Asia.Several local government departments in Xinjiang posted notices on their websites in the last week ordering restrictions on fasting during Ramadan.During the holy month, the faithful fast from dawn to dusk and strive to be more pious.“Party members, cadres, civil servants, students and minors must not fast for Ramadan and must not take part in religious activities,” a notice posted Thursday on the government website of central Xinjiang’s Korla city said.“During the Ramadan month, food and drink businesses must not close,” it added.
Punch