The Islamophobia Observatory of Dar al-Iftaa condemned Monday Chinese authorities for preventing the Azan (call to Muslim prayers through mosque microphones) and preventing children from entering mosques in Xinjiang Chinese territory.
"What the Chinese authorities have done is an extreme insult to the feelings of the Muslim community in China, which represents more than 120 million people," the observatory said.
Recent Chinese measures against Muslims deepen the feelings of hatred and discrimination, and also create a generation of repressed Muslim children that are not integrated into Chinese society, which subjects them to falling into the clutches of extremism, the statement added.
Press reports described the measures as "racist arbitrary measures imposed by Chinese authorities against Muslims in China, including restrictions on the movement of Muslim workers, causing big losses in local agriculture, in addition to arrest, crackdowns and eavesdropping under the pretext of protecting public security of possible terrorist threats", the statement added.
The statement quoted press reports as saying that, as a result of such racist measures against Muslims in China, a large number of Muslims from the Uyghurs minority joined the Islamic State and hold leadership positions in the organization, especially in northeast Syria.
The observatory called on Chinese authorities to stop racism against Muslims, which inflames hatred and eliminates the feelings of Chinese Muslims of belonging to their homeland. China should seek the integration of Chinese Muslims into society and give them a space to practice their rituals so as to support their country against terrorism, the observatory added.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
