China bans fasting of Uyghur Muslims, police is using spies

Muslims around the world have started fasting with the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. China’s Muslims are facing restrictions on fasting and their cultural and religious traditions are under constant attack. Chinese police are using spies to ensure that Uyghur Muslims are not fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Including members of their own ethnic group. A police officer in the eastern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region near Turpan, or Tulufan in Chinese, said the spies are called Chinese officers “kan” and are selected from civilians, police officers and members of committees.

According to officials, police stations in Turpan have selected two or three detectives from each village to spy on residents who were earlier detained for fasting during Ramzan. Detectives are also keeping an eye on people released from jail. A police officer told RFA that these ears are from three areas, the common citizens, the police and the committees. The police officer said that there are 70 to 80 Uyghur policemen at my workplace who either act as direct ears or lead other detectives.

China began banning Muslim fasting during Ramadan in Xinjiang in 2017, when authorities began arbitrarily detaining Uyghurs in “re-education” camps amid larger efforts to undermine Uyghur culture, language and religion. done. The ban was partially relaxed in 2021 and 2022, allowing people over 65 to fast, and police reduced the number of house searches and street patrolling activities.