Chinese authorities are cracking down on religious activities following deadly unrest in the country’s Muslim northwest, “rescuing” 190 children and jailing dozens of others in the autonomous region of Xinjiang, according to state media.
Hundreds have died in Xinjiang in the past 18 months in violence that the Chinese government blames on Islamist militants and separatists.
Last month, the government said it had “rescued” 82 children in Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi from religious schools known as madrasas, which children are banned from attending, Reuters reported.
The official Legal Daily newspaper said there was another sweep recently in Urumqi. A total of 85 people have been detained and 190 children “rescued,” the newspaper said, without providing further details, Reuters reported.
Beijing has tried to limit the wearing of religious clothing in the region and has cracked down on those who have sought to challenge the official narrative of Xinjiang’s unrest.
In July, statements posted on websites of schools, government agencies and local party organizations in the Xinjiang region banned citizens from fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Similar rules have been implemented in the past to stamp out religious influence, but this year is slightly different because the crackdown is a security response to attacks that the government blames on Muslim extremists.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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