Xinjiang officials announced a proposal of a new law that will fight religious extremism. Minority Muslim Uyghurs expressed their fear toward the new law as it will just add more restrictions in their religious practice.
The newly proposed legislation is connected with the implementation of a new legislation against terrorism. UCA News reported that extra troops and numbers of police have been deployed after a surge of violence erupted since 2014. This new law will enforce Xinjiang's 'strike hard' campaign towards anti-terrorism.
An Uyghur Muslim located in the eastern part of Xinjiang said that worship has now become more restricted and these new laws can only make things worse. According to South China Morning Post, director of Standing Committee of Xinjiang's regional, Nayim Yassen said that these draft against terrorism and religious extremists are the main focus of this year's legislative work.
China's largest province, Xinjiang, has already been shaken by violence in recent years as members of the Uyghur community targeted police stations and government buildings. In 2014, members of this community were linked to knife attacks in the city of Kunming. The incident killed 30 people at a railway station, as reported by Hindustan Times. There were also suicide bombings that occurred in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
China has blamed the attacks on local terrorists. The community of Uyghur Muslims said that these attacks were the result of China's oppressive and unjust policies against Muslim communities. The country has also banned full-face coverings in public for women. The government stated in the news that the clothing was associated with religious extremism. Young people were also banned from entering mosques in Xinjiang.
Although the full details of the new law against religious extremism are yet to be made public, Nayim Yassen told China's state news that the drafting process had made significant progress. Meanwhile, the same state news agency also reported that nationality, region and religion beliefs will not be used as reasons to discriminate.
Alim Seytoff, director of the Washington DC-based Uyghur Human Rights Project said, "It will most likely further outlaw traditional Uyghur religious beliefs and practices, and attempt to dilute their religious faith and secularize the new generation of Uyghurs."
The government of China already made public notices in towns and cities warning parents that children who participate in any religious activities will be sent to prison. Prison terms will be three to seven years. Xinjiang is a home to an estimated 12 million Uyghurs, and their fight towards religious freedom has just begun.
