An exclusive video story by the BBC has found starling evidence of increasing control and suppression of Islam in China’s far western region of Xinjiang.
The video story in its official website also shows exclusive visuals of mosques being demolished.
Authorities provided rare access to religious sites and senior Islamic officials to support their claim that their policies only target violent religious extremism, not faith itself.
BBC’s China correspondent John Sudworth who had done the video story had set out to investigate after as the report quotes ‘provided rare access to religious sites and senior Islamic officials to support their claim that their policies only target violent religious extremism, not faith itself.’
When the BBC correspondent visited the Id Kah Mosque, one of Xinjiang’s holiest places, but the access that the crew was given was designed to show that ‘any concern about China’s tightening control of religious faith is misplaced’.
The report shows notices being put up at several places prohibiting men from keeping long beards in Xinjiang which is one of the common practices in Islam.
The visuals show several loced houses of Muslim families who might have moved to safer places. There are visuals of notices put up on the doors of the houses and the walls laying down certain guidelines and prohibiting certain practices pivotal to Islam.
BBC China correspondent when visits an educational camp in Xinjiang, he found that many Muslim students have left the place.
Several Islamic religious leaders in China have testified on camera that in their country there has never been repression on religion, but the reality shown in the BBC video story tells a different story.
What’s shocking is visuals of old mosques dating back to the 17th century being allegedly destroyed or demolished are explicitly shown.
In one instance when the BBC correspondent wanted to visit a mosque, the road was immediately closed citing reasons of repair work.
Source – BBC