Uyghur Muslims Enter Another Ramadan Facing Continued Oppression

CUS Press Release

For Immediate Release

March 1, 2025

Contact@Uyghurstudy.org

Uyghurstudy.org 

The Center for Uyghur Studies (CUS) extends its heartfelt congratulations to Muslims around the world as they welcome the blessed month of Ramadan. While this sacred time is marked by devotion, fasting, and community gatherings, millions of Uyghur Muslims in East Turkistan remain deprived of their fundamental right to observe their faith. The Chinese government continues its brutal campaign against Uyghur religious identity, enforcing strict bans on fasting, prayer, and all expressions of Islamic practice.

For years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has sought to erase Uyghur religious and cultural traditions, turning Ramadan—a sacred time of worship and reflection—into a month of fear and suppression. Uyghur families are subjected to invasive surveillance, government-imposed restrictions, and forced participation in activities that violate their religious beliefs. Students, civil servants, and the elderly alike are prevented from fasting, while mosques are closed or have been demolished altogether.

This Ramadan arrives amidst another devastating development— forcible return of at least 40 Uyghur refugees to China from Thailand. In the days leading up to this holy month, the Thai government has forcibly repatriated Uyghurs seeking safety abroad, placing them at immediate risk of imprisonment, forced labor, or worse. These forced deportations, in violation of international law, are a stark reminder of China’s transnational repression.

Despite these immense challenges, the Uyghur people have not lost hope. Their faith remains strong, and their resilience in the face of oppression serves as an inspiration to all who value religious freedom and human dignity. The Center for Uyghur Studies calls on the international community, Muslim-majority countries, and human rights organizations to stand in solidarity with the Uyghur people, to defend their right to religious freedom, and to ensure that their suffering is not ignored.

Executive Director Abdulhakim Idris said, “As we celebrate Ramadan, we must not forget those who are unable to observe it freely. For Uyghur Muslims, this sacred month has become a time of intensified repression rather than spiritual devotion. Let this Ramadan be a time of reflection, advocacy, and renewed commitment to justice. We call on the international community—particularly the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Muslim-majority countries—to take decisive action against China’s systematic persecution and uphold the fundamental right to religious freedom.”