CUS Press Release
For Immediate Release
March 15, 2025
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Fasting during Ramadan is not merely an act of devotion; it is a profound expression of faith, resilience, and unity – an act of defiance against oppression, a powerful declaration of belief in the face of tyranny. For Muslims around the world, it is a time of spiritual renewal and community solidarity. Yet for Uyghur Muslims in East Turkistan (AKA Xinjiang), this sacred tradition has been criminalized by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), transforming one of the most revered acts of worship into a threat to their very existence. The CCP’s ruthless crackdown on Uyghur religious freedom, designed to eradicate their faith and culture, is not just a regional tragedy – it is a global warning, a stark reminder of the dangerous rise of Islamophobia. On International Day to Combat Islamophobia (March 15), we must move beyond reflection and take action against the CCP’s grave violations of religious freedom.
Uyghur Muslims – particularly government workers, students, and teachers – are forced to break their fast, violating their deeply held religious convictions under the watchful eye of an oppressive regime. Simply being suspected of fasting can lead to interrogation, harassment, and arrest. What was once a sacred act of faith has now become an act of silent defiance – an act of resistance against a regime determined to erase their faith, identity, and culture.
This brutal assault on religious freedom is part of a wider, systematic campaign by the CCP to erase the very existence of Uyghur culture and faith – ranging from burning the holy Quran, destroying mosques, forced assimilation and mass incarceration to forced labor, forced sterilization, and the horrific separation of families. In the face of this relentless oppression, Uyghur Muslims are presented with an unimaginable choice: betray their faith or endure persecution, imprisonment, and worse. The global fight for religious freedom is inseparable from their suffering. This is not merely a Uyghur issue, it is a human rights issue that demands urgent and unwavering international attention and action.
On March 15, International Day to Combat Islamophobia, we are reminded of the dark and growing tide of Islamophobia, the irrational fear, hatred, and prejudice against Uyghur Muslims.
The damage brought by Islamophobia is both physical and cultural. Muslims are subjected to heightened harrasment and discrimination in schools, workplaces, and public spaces. Whether it is Uyghur Muslims enduring religious persecution in East Turkistan or Muslims in our own communities facing hate and prejudice, we must rise to the challenge.
“This March 15, as we commemorate International Day to Islamophobia, we must translate our recognition of this injustice into bold and meaningful action. Yet, most Muslim countries remain blindsided by China’s war on Islam in East Turkistan. Still, we demand that world leaders and governments, especially Muslim countries, take decisive action to hold the CCP accountable for its crimes against Uyghur Muslims and all persecuted communities. Let us stand together—not in silence, but in action. Do not be a hypocrite when addressing this tragedy – acknowledge what the Chinese government is doing to the Uyghur Muslims. The Uyghur struggle for religious freedom and the global battle against Islamophobia are not distant struggles; they are our struggles, as a humanity. This March 15, let us demonstrate that we will not remain passive in the face of genocide. We must fight for the dignity, human rights, and freedoms of all Muslims everywhere. The time to act is now.” Said Executive Director Abdulhakim Idris.
The struggle against Islamophobia and the oppression faced by Uyghur Muslims is not a fight for one community alone – it is a fight for justice, human rights, and religious liberty for all people of faith. The international community must unite to confront this rising global threat. Governments, religious institutions, civil society, and individuals alike must stand in defense of religious freedom – not just for Muslims, but for all people of faith.
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