When the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan offered his preposterously sanitized version of how his government treats Muslims, he had no fear of being cross-examined. For he knew that Pakistan needs China, both as an economic partner, and as a military ally — China supplies 70% of Pakistan’s weaponry — and the Pakistani government is not about to contradict the official Chinese line. The Chinese are, in stark contrast to the fearful and appeasement-minded West, unafraid to come down hard on Islam. And the Pakistanis did not dare to protest. (More recently, a single Pakistani official mildly suggested that the Chinese not end, but merely “soften” their policy in Xinjiang). The reason the ambassador lied is simple: because he could.
Now the world knows that one million Muslim Uighurs have been sent to re-education camps in China, where they are forced to take part in sessions designed to inculcate contempt for religion. These re-education camps have been operating for more than a year. The Uighur inmates are asked to renounce Islam, and are forced to learn Mandarin. A recent report shows there has been no let-up in this anti-Islam campaign:
A city in China’s far-western Xinjiang region has ordered people who are “poisoned by extremism, terrorism and separatism”, in contact with overseas terror groups or act in a conservative Islamic manner, to turn themselves in to authorities.
Those who surrender to judicial organs within 30 days and confess to their crimes will be treated leniently and might avoid punishment, said a notice posted on Sunday on the official social media account of the Hami city government.
Beijing has in recent months faced an outcry from activists, academics and foreign governments over mass detentions and strict surveillance of the Muslim Uighur minority and other ethnic groups that live in Xinjiang.
China rejects the criticism, saying that it protects the religion and culture of minorities in the region and that its security measures are needed to combat the influence of “extremist” groups that incite violence there.
“All individuals involved in terrorist crimes and poisoned by the ‘three evil forces’ are urged to surrender themselves to the judicial organs within 30 days and to confess and hand over the facts of your crime,” said the Hami city notice.
The Chinese government, not content with banning beards, nullifying names, and confiscating Qur’ans, is now asking Uighurs to denounce themselves for the “three evil forces” — extremism, terrorism, and separatism — in the same spirit as the campaigns of public self-denunciation that were such a feature of the Cultural Revolution. If those “involved in terrorist crimes” turn themselves in within 30 days of the announcement just made, and supply useful evidence that might, of course, implicate others in “terrorism,” they can expect “leniency,” although how the ruthless Chinese Communists define “leniency” is unknown.
The notice issued by the municipal “leading small group for stability maintenance” says that actions ranging from being in contact with overseas “terror” groups to conservative Islamic behavior should prompt individuals to turn themselves in.
The kinds of attitudes and acts the Chinese government thinks Uighurs should turn themselves, in for, or report on others about, cover quite a range. The government has decreed that if you have had “contact” with overseas “terror” groups, you should turn yourself in. But what constitutes “contact,” and what qualifies as an overseas “terror” group? Would visiting a half-dozen times the website of a group of French Muslim clerics who are intent on carrying on campaigns of Da’wa in southern France be something for which you must turn yourself in? What about frequently talking on the phone with a Uighur friend now working as an engineer in Saudi Arabia? Would the Chinese government consider this “contact” to be suspect, on the assumption that any Muslim living in Saudi Arabia would necessarily be influenced by the Salafi version of Islam that prevails in that country? If a Uighur’s cousin, now living in Turkey, attends out of curiosity a single meeting in Istanbul of a pan-Turanian group that has, among its goals, independence for Xinjiang, and mentions it in an email to his cousin, noting that he thought pan-Turanianism was an impractical idea, does that email have to be reported to the Chinese government, as “contact” with an “overseas terror group”?
Advocating that people live their entire lives in accordance with the Koran, stopping other people from watching television, or banning alcohol, smoking and dancing at weddings are listed as behaviors that should warrant informing the authorities.
The list also included openly destroying, rejecting or thwarting the government identification system, as well as rejecting government provided housing, subsidies and cigarettes or booze as being “haram” or forbidden.
Uighurs should turn in their fellows, too, for being too observant in their practice of Islam. If a Uighur knows of someone who advocates that Muslims “live their entire lives in accordance with the Qur’an,” he (or she) has a duty to turn that person in. If you find a Muslim who prevents his fellow Muslims from watching television (which broadcasts government anti-Islam propaganda), you have a duty to report him. If a Uighur prevents other Muslims from drinking alcohol, or smoking, or dancing at weddings — all activities that are haram — he is viewed as suspect, and should be reported to the government or ideally, should denounce himself to the authorities.
Those who turn themselves in on time will be treated leniently, and if the information provides a significant clue, then they might avoid all punishment, the notice said.
The “information” that “provides a significant clue” refers to helping the authorities identify others who have exhibited behavior that marks them as “too Muslim.” Turn yourself in, and you “will be treated leniently.” Help the government track down others — in other words, act as an informer — and you may be let off without any punishment.