China restricts Ramadan fasting in Xinjiang

Muslim civil servants, students and members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) are not allowed to fast during the holy month of Ramadan in several government departments in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

"Party members, civil servants and students cannot take part in fasting and other religious activities. All CPC officials and civil servants should guide family members and friends to act in line with the law and fight against illegal religious activities," state-run news paper Global Times cited a press release from Turpan commercial bureau.

State-run Bozhou Radio and TV University in Bole, Xinjiang also posted the ban on fasting for the party members, teachers, and young people on June 28.

"We remind everyone that we are not permitted to observe the Ramadan fast," it said, adding that teachers would be dismissed if found to have violated the rule.

Some experts said it was a routine practice in the region to circulate such notices during Ramadan out of concern that fasting would affect students' studies and health.

It could also prevent students from being misled by religious extremists, who could take advantage of religious sentiment, Zhang Yuxia, an associate professor at an Urumqi-based university was quoted by Global Times as saying.

Zhang said this year's ban was also intended to protect the public amid the spectre of terrorism in the region.

"If everyone fasts, more people would crowd into Muslim restaurants after sunset, which is about 11 pm. That would become another easy target for terrorists," Zhang said, adding night markets in Urumqi have been suspended after a deadly attack on a street market in the city which killed 31 people on May 22.

China has launched a “one-year” security crackdown since then following a series of terrorist attacks involving Uyghur Muslims from the restive province.

A spokesperson for the Xinjiang government, Hou Hanmin was quoted as saying that the authorities do encourage residents to eat properly for study and work purposes, but do not force them to eat during Ramadan.