China Describes Religious Freedom in Xinjiang as Unprecedented Opposes Foreign Meddling

June 2nd, 2016

Awake Goy

nsnbc : The Chinese government, on Thursday, released a white paper, describing the freedom of religious belief in the Xinjang Uyghur Autonomous Region as unprecedented. The White paper was released as Islamist Uyghur militants increasingly pose a challenge to national and regional security, and against the background of foreign support for Uyghur communities.

The white paper, entitled “Freedom of Religious Belief in Xinjiang” stresses that the freedoms enjoyed in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region today “cannot be matched by that in any other historical period. Chinese authorities note that since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Constitutional principle of freedom of religious belief has been comprehensively implemented in Xinjiang, with the citizens’ freedom of religious belief fully respected and believers’ normal religious needs effectively met.

The white paper was released by China’s State Council Information Office and clearly aimed at an international readership. In Xinjiang, “the positive role of religious circles in promoting economic development and social stability is well displayed, the government’s capability of administrating religious affairs is constantly strengthened, international exchanges in the religious field are being expanded, and the proliferation and spread of religious extremism is being effectively contained,” it noted.

The paper notes that historically, religious relations in Xinjiang were very complicated and that religious wars not only caused serious damage to the economy and society, but also brought grave disasters to the people. The development led many to lose faith in their religion, notes the paper. The major religions in Xinjiang are, according to the white paper, Islam, Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism and Taoism.

The government document states that there are 24,800 venues for religious activities in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with 29,300 clerical personnel. Among them, there are about 24,400 mosques housing 29,000 clerical personnel, according to a white paper. The venues also include 59 Buddhist temples, 227 Protestant churches or meeting grounds, and 26 Catholic churches or meeting grounds. One Taoist temple and three Orthodox churches or meeting grounds are also in operation in the region, the white paper said. Moreover, Xinjiang has eight religious colleges, including the Xinjiang Islamic Institute and Xinjiang Islamic School.

Self-Management vs. Foreign Domination

The white paper stresses that China upholds the principle of independence and self-management in religious undertakings and that foreign organizations and individuals must not interfere. The paper underpins China’s position that undertakings are run by its own religious groups, personnel or citizens, and that the country’s religious affairs or organizations are “not subject to any foreign domination.” Moreover, the white paper notes, that foreigners must abide by Chinese laws and regulations when participating in religious activities within Chinese territory and must not interfere in China’s religious affairs. “As a provincial-level administrative region of China, Xinjiang sticks to the principle of independence and self-management in terms of its religious affairs,” it said.

The paper also stresses that the Chinese government resolutely opposes the politicization of religious matters and any other country’s interference in China’s internal affairs in the name of religion. “China … will never allow any foreign organization or individual to interfere with China’ s religious affairs,” the white paper said.

Aftermath of the bombing at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok

Foreign Interference and Islamist Uyghur Terrorism

Several Uyghur groups, and notably those who cause most problems, receive political and other support from the United States via organizations like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The NED was established as “an alternative policy option” to more direct approaches to “subversion” and “regime change”. Islamist Uyghur terrorist circles have also been linked to NATO member Turkey’s intelligence linked networks, including the notorious Turkish “Grey Wolves“. Several analysts assess the situation as an attempt to destabilize Xinjiang for geopolitical reasons to counter China’s New Silk Road or Road and Belt projects and the projection of Chinese power into Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, as well as into Thailand and Southeast Asia.

Radicalized Islamist Uyghur terrorists and linked intelligence circles have been implicated in several high-profile attacks throughout the region. These attacks include the attack against the Thai Consulate in Turkey, in July 2015, a bombing in Thailand’s capital Bangkok in August 2015, Several Uighur who were wanted for the Bangkok blast were arrested in Malaysia in September 2015. Two Uyghur accused of the bombing at the Erawan Shrine on August 17, 2015 are currently being tried in Bangkok. The bombing killed 20 and injured another 120. The bombing has been linked to Thai authorities crackdown against an Uighur human trafficking ring and the expulsion of about 100 Uighur from Thailand. In Indonesia the so-called Santoso group has reportedly Chinese Uighur among its ranks. In March 2016 the Indonesian government launched an offensive against the Islamist group.

CH/L – nsnbc 02.06.2016

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