By Richard Javad Heydarian
Chinese soldiers participate in an anti-terror drill in Hami, East Turkestan on July 8, 2017 Amid Xi Jinping's consolidation of power in China, there are growing concerns over an ongoing crackdown on religious freedoms and basic rights of minority groups in the country.
China has embarked on an aggressive Sinification campaign to recast various "foreign" religions to reflect the regime's priorities and the country's unique culture.
Abrahamic faiths originating from the Middle East have been the main target of this new policy, which has provoked massive backlash among various ethnic-religious groups.
In particular, the large Muslim Chinese community has resisted coercive "re-education" efforts by the authorities, which have progressively restricted religious minorities from observing the basic articles of their faith.
In particular, the large Muslim Chinese community has resisted coercive "re-education" efforts by the authorities, which have progressively restricted religious minorities from observing the basic articles of their faith.
According to a report submitted to the United Nations, as many as one million Uighurs from East Turkestan have been forced into internment camps.
Rights groups are accusing China of engaging in an all campaign of ethnic cleansing.
Rights groups are accusing China of engaging in an all campaign of ethnic cleansing.
Ongoing efforts at Sinification of East Turkestan wil only intensify deep ethnic-religious faultlines in modern China.
What's at stake is no less than the internal coherence in Asia's most powerful state.
In popular imagination, China is often synonymous with authoritarian tranquility.
In popular imagination, China is often synonymous with authoritarian tranquility.
Yet, a more careful look reveals intensified socioeconomic fault lines, with religious freedom emerging as a key area of contestation in China.
Over the past decade, there has been an upsurge of resistance, sometimes even armed and violent, against Beijing's marginalisation of the Muslim minority groups.
Over the past decade, there has been an upsurge of resistance, sometimes even armed and violent, against Beijing's marginalisation of the Muslim minority groups.
The large-scale migration of Han (mainstream Chinese ethnic group) population into previously Muslim-majority regions as well as government restrictions on observance of basic tenets of Islam, including wearing of veil and fasting during Ramadan, has deepened Uighur grievance against the regime.
In mid-2009, a series of violent clashes between Uighurs and Han residents of Urumqi led to the death and injury of as many as 184 individuals.
In mid-2009, a series of violent clashes between Uighurs and Han residents of Urumqi led to the death and injury of as many as 184 individuals.
The radicalised atmosphere has strengthened the hands of groups such as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which has called for armed resistance against Beijing.
In 2013, violence hit the capital, when several Uighurs, using an SUV, ploughed through visitors at Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
In 2013, violence hit the capital, when several Uighurs, using an SUV, ploughed through visitors at Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
The following year saw several attacks across East Turkestan, one of which claimed the lives of close to hundred individuals as well as an Imam perceived to be China-friendly.
That year also saw a group of suspected Uighur patriots chasing and assaulting Chinese in Kunming, in the province of Yunnan, with knives, provoking fears of widespread attacks across the country.
In response, the communist regime, which derives its legitimacy from bringing about order and prosperity, adopted increasingly draconian measures, reportedly including the establishment of "reeducation camps" for religious recantation, to crash resistance among ethnic minority groups and prevent "terror" attacks across the country.
In a particularly strident editorial, The Global Times, a hard line Chinese government mouthpiece, portrayed the ongoing crackdown on and cultural marginalisation of Uighurs as a justifiable policy to ensure "East Turkestan has been salvaged from the verge of massive turmoil" and "evil influence" of extremism.
That year also saw a group of suspected Uighur patriots chasing and assaulting Chinese in Kunming, in the province of Yunnan, with knives, provoking fears of widespread attacks across the country.
In response, the communist regime, which derives its legitimacy from bringing about order and prosperity, adopted increasingly draconian measures, reportedly including the establishment of "reeducation camps" for religious recantation, to crash resistance among ethnic minority groups and prevent "terror" attacks across the country.
In a particularly strident editorial, The Global Times, a hard line Chinese government mouthpiece, portrayed the ongoing crackdown on and cultural marginalisation of Uighurs as a justifiable policy to ensure "East Turkestan has been salvaged from the verge of massive turmoil" and "evil influence" of extremism.
Recent weeks saw the extension of the government's religious crackdown to the historically well-integrated Hui Muslims in northern Ningxia region, reflecting a more aggressive attempt at Sinification of religion.
A recent government decision to demolish the Weizhou Grand Mosque, supposedly for lack of proper permit but likely because of its more Middle Eastern design, sparked days of massive protests by thousands of Hui Muslims.
China's relations with Muslim-majority Central Asian neighbours have also come under strain. Recently, a Kazakh court ruled in favour of Sayragul Sauytbay, an ethnic Kazakh Chinese national, who sought refuge in the central Asian country after exposing the presence of internment "reeducation" camps for Muslim minority groups.
China's relations with Muslim-majority Central Asian neighbours have also come under strain. Recently, a Kazakh court ruled in favour of Sayragul Sauytbay, an ethnic Kazakh Chinese national, who sought refuge in the central Asian country after exposing the presence of internment "reeducation" camps for Muslim minority groups.
China sought her extradition for supposedly violating state secrets, an accusation that can carry death penalty.
Her case sparked widespread outrage against China across Kazakhstan, forcing the Beijing-friendly government to protect the asylum-seeking activist.
Her case sparked widespread outrage against China across Kazakhstan, forcing the Beijing-friendly government to protect the asylum-seeking activist.
Unless the Chinese communist regime reconsiders its current policy towards religious minority groups, it will likely inspire even greater resistance among Muslim groups at home and backlash among neighbouring Muslim countries.
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