A spokesman for the exiled World Uyghur Congress, which
promotes democracy, human rights and freedom for the indigenous Uyghur (Uighur)
people, said authorities encouraged Uighurs to eat free meals, and inspected
homes to check whether families were observing the fast.
Several government agencies and schools posted the ban
notices on their websites, saying it was aimed at preventing the institutions
from being used to promote religion. Similar bans have been imposed in the past
on fasting for Ramadan, which began at sundown Saturday. But this year is
unusually sensitive because Xinjiang is under tight security following attacks
that the government blames on Muslim extremists with foreign terrorist ties,
according to the Associated Press.
Violent clashes between Uighurs and ethnic Chinese has risen
in recent years. In July 2009, conflicts between the Han Chinese and the Uighur
erupted, killing nearly 200 people in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi.
During Ramadan, Muslims around the world fast from dawn to
dusk and strive to be more pious. The commercial affairs bureau of Turfan, an
oasis city in the Taklamakan Desert, said on its website Monday that
"civil servants and students cannot take part in fasting and other
religious activities," according to the South China Morning Post.
The state-run Bozhou Radio and TV University warned the ban
would also be enforced "on party members, teachers, and young people from
taking part in Ramadan activities."
"We remind everyone that they are not permitted to
observe a Ramadan fast," it added.
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