The month of Ramadan is meant to be a time of peace, worship, and reflection for Muslims around the world. However, for the Uyghur Muslims in East Turkistan (AKA Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region), Ramadan has often become a symbol of ongoing suffering and repression. Under the rule of the Chinese Communist government, the religious freedom of the Uyghur people has been increasingly restricted, particularly during this holy month.
Reports by various human rights organizations indicate that Uyghur Muslims face bans on fasting, strict surveillance in mosques, and threats of punishment for expressing their religious practices. Government employees, students, and civil servants have reportedly been forced to eat and drink during daylight hours in Ramadan as “proof of loyalty” to the state. Such actions not only violate the right to religious freedom, but also degrade the dignity of individuals for whom fasting is a fundamental pillar of their faith.
This repression occurs within a broader context in East Turkistan where concentration camps branded as “re-education” centers have been established on a massive scale. Millions of Uyghurs are believed to have been detained, either previously or currently, without due process. In these camps, Islamic practices such as prayer, reading the Qur’an, and fasting are treated as signs of extremism. Ramadan, which should nurture patience and piety, is instead regarded as a threat to national security.
Even more distressing, families have been separated, children are forced into an education system that denies their religious and cultural identity, and mosques have been demolished or placed under constant surveillance. All of this reflects a systematic effort to erode Uyghur identity as Muslims and as a distinct people. In such circumstances, fasting during Ramadan becomes a form of “silent resistance”, an act of worship carried out in fear, yet firmly rooted in faith.
The oppression of the Uyghurs is not merely an internal matter of China – as it is often framed under the principle of “non-intervention” – but rather a universal humanitarian issue. Ramadan should remind Muslims around the world of the values of empathy, justice, and standing with the oppressed. Awareness, continuous prayers for the Uyghurs, and sustained international pressure are essential to bringing this repression to an end. As long as Ramadan is observed in fear by our fellow Muslims in East Turkistan, the voice of justice must continue to resonate.
Prepared by,
Research Unit
Center for Uyghur Studies – Malaysia.
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