The state of religious freedom in China

Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Communist China has discouraged religious practices. They had inherited the anti-religious stance taken by Communists in showing contempt for all religious beliefs. Religion is considered an enemy of socialism in China and falls within the regulated framework of state-approved 'standards.' Religious practices were thus particularly difficult to observe during Mao's Cultural Revolution (from 1966-1977) when many practitioners of religion were persecuted by the communist party "Red Guards". In the recent years, active suppression is not as grim as it used to be, and the influence of religion now has been considerably abated from the standpoint of the Beijing government. China has eased up a little on giving people religious freedom, but with one-party rule, it still has serious aversion to any kind of religious activities.

From the beginning of Marxism, there has been no love lost between communist ideology and religion. Marx declared religion as the "opiate of the masses." The oppressed, the poor, the proletariat in general would resort to or find solace in religion simply because it provided an escape from the harsh economic realities of everyday life. Although Marx was not totally unsympathetic towards religion, 20th century communists interpreted it in harsh "materialist" terms. Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky in Russia, and Mao Zedong in China followed the notion first proposed by Marx of seeing religion as a tool used by the capitalist classes to deceive the masses oppressed under a pitiless economic system. When the Communists won the civil war in 1949, the symbols of 'Old China' were pushed aside in favour of the Maoist ideology. Part of this old China consisted of religions such as Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism practised by the majority of the ethnic Han Chinese, as well as Christianity and Islam, the latter largely practised by a few million Uyghurs in Xinxiang in western China. The state looked at the economic conditions of the majority, and decided that an ideological struggle, based on Maoist ideas, best provided the means for uplifting the condition of the masses. Set aside temporarily, at least for the first few decades, was the tension between the ethnic Han Chinese, and Muslim Uyghurs in Xinxiang. The focus was, in Marxist parlance, on class struggle instead. 

With major economic changes and social services upgrades, China now is akin to 1890s America - across between capitalism and socialism. In spite of repeated assurances by Beijing that ethnic Uyghurs living in China's mostly Muslim Xinjiang region enjoy full religious freedom, government workers routinely block their right to fast during Islam's holy month of Ramadan, sources in the region say.

STATE POLICY OF MARXIST ATHEISM: Since Ramadan started this June 06, I have read two back-to-back reports about religious ban in China. The top Chinese officials, led by president Xi Jinping, have warned people, especially those Muslims living in Xinjiang province, to excuse themselves from any kind of religious practices. On June 02, China put a ban on the Muslims to refrain from fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. The strict warning has reiterated that all Chinese must adhere to China's state policy of "Marxist Atheism." The government has ordered no special provisions to be made during Ramadan. It has instructed all businesses should remain open without any exception. Anyone failing to comply will be dealt with in accordance with the communist code of conduct. 

On June 02, China also issued a white paper glorifying "unprecedented" levels of religious freedom in Xinjiang, adding that "no citizen suffers discrimination or unfair treatment for believing in, or not believing in, any religion," according to official media.

However, "several local government departments and middle or high schools in the Uyghur region have posted notices online in recent days ordering restrictions on the Muslim duty to fast during Ramadan; local sources told RFA's Uyghur Service: "We have forbidden [ruling Chinese Communist] Party members, cadres, civil servants, and village officials, in fact anyone drawing a salary from the state, from praying or fasting during Ramadan," one local official in Aksu (in Chinese, Akesu) prefecture said.

Xi Jinping's remarks were made at the Second National Work Conference on Religion. It has been reported that all Chinese state media is broadcasting his message nonstop.

As a practising Muslim, I cannot imagine anyone telling me that I cannot pray to Allah or fast during Ramadan. For us Muslims, Ramadan emanates from the spiritual rejuvenation inspired by the selfless act of fasting. We also fast because it is obligatory for every mature, sane and healthy Muslim as it is a means of helping ourselves to fulfil the directives of Islam. Here in the Washington DC area the sun set at 8:39 pm (June 17) as it is summertime and we endure this practise of fasting without complaining about the long hours.

When I read how millions of Syrians at refugee camps throughout Europe are breaking fast with simple meals that are made from their monthly food voucher or donated food packages, my conviction in my faith has only increased. I read a story about one refugee family who had escaped to Sweden. This particular city is close to the North Pole of the earth and in the summer, the sun can often be seen past midnight. Therefore, those refugee Muslims have to fast for many more extra hours than we do. While talking to a reporter, the father in the family didn't complain about that or the bad food. Jokingly he added that he has nothing against his wife's cooking, but during this Ramadan, he is missing his mother's Kawaj (Syrian version of kufta) that she used to make for iftar when he was a boy.   

But the Chinese government wouldn't be moved by such stories and take into account why Muslims need to live their lives according to the tenets of Islam. Its latest warning was aimed at the Uyghurs, who in recent times have become very aggressive in their protests against the state. Xinjiang borders Pakistan where the hardline Islamic teachings flow more easily; the Chinese government fears that the entire province will be radicalised if it doesn't stop the influence of Islamic messages. Xi Jinping's message at the conference was also directed to the government of Pakistan. 

Another very important message by President Xi made it very clear about China's State policy of intolerance towards Pan-Islamic tendency of the people. He asked all Chinese citizens "not to confuse themselves with non-CCP (Chinese Communist Party, my note) approved tendencies" and to "never find their values and beliefs in this religion or that religion." He has asked the people of Xinjiang, the Uyghurs to resist overseas intrusions through religious means and to safeguard against ideological infringement by Islamic extremists across the border. 

FEAR OF CHINESE LEADERS: The Chinese leaders are afraid that Islam is making its way into some parts of China thus making the nation vulnerable to extremist infiltration, and cautioned its people to stay vigilant against everything Islamic, including halal products. They, in no uncertain terms, made it clear that halal products will not make into the Chinese markets. 

Muslim pupils are forbidden to believe in religion and are barred from religious observance, such as praying and fasting according to a letter posted online by administrators of High School 46 in the regional capital, Urumqi. The letter was addressed to the parents of students at the school.

Another letter was also sent to the parents where it said anyone under 18-year should not enter the mosque to pray. "Parents should follow the Party's rules of education and bar their children from illegal religious activities such as praying, fasting, going to mosques, wearing religious dress, studying religion, and so on," the letter read.

A student studying in western Xinjiang's Kashgar University claimed that students are forced to eat during Ramadan. At his school, the administrators now "regularly check each classroom and force Uyghur students to drink water or eat something in front of them." Students' bags are routinely checked during the day to see if they contain food meant to be eaten when the day's fast ends at sundown. If any is found, the students are made to eat them right away. "The university administration always warns us that if students fast or pray, they will be expelled from the university or will not receive a diploma or certificate when they graduate," said the student.

The local families who are under suspicion that they may be fasting are invited to the village office to "drink tea" to see if they are really fasting or not by the "stability worker." They also use other means to get information on villagers' religious activities through their "secret eyes and ears" or through their "neighbourhood-watch" programme.

The owner of a traditional medicine store in Hotan named Obulqasim said,"I have heard from friends working in government departments that water bottles are being distributed to civil servants and other cadres, and that they must drink these in front of others." With an estimated four million Muslims living in China, these kinds of absurdities happen every year during Ramadan.

To promote the position of the communist government, many newspapers ran articles on why religion should not be allowed to be practised in the country, and expressed support for the newly refreshed policies that were already in place. 

Since China has declared the year 2016 as the "Year of Ethnic Unity and Progress," it is beyond me why it is urging the Muslims not to follow through the religious practices mandated by Islam during Ramadan. Is China simply fearful of religious wall being drawn? 

Thus this Ramadan, there is considerable resentment over the control being exercised by the state over the practice of Islam in Xinjiang. The state is now interfering with anyone observing fasts during Ramadan, praying five times a day, growing a beard, burning incense, wearing a hijab and following dietary restrictions in regards to halal food and so forth. 

China's anxiety of radical Islamic ideas spreading across the border is a genuine one as no country wants the Islamic militants inside their territory. China is concerned about its national security, and said it will target all those who assist in the "propagation of Islam."

President Xi has said that he would reinforce his new policies with renewed vigour as China is looking at Pakistan-sponsored Islamic radicalisation of the Uyghurs. On the flip side, it could be interpreted as China is the only world power where the Maoist/Marxist-Leninist ideology continues to thrive. 

The writer is a freelancer.

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