Muslims in China are increasingly living under a police state
ISLAMABAD: The least Pakistan can do as China’s ‘all-weather friend’ is act as a mediator and mouthpiece for China’s oppressed Muslim population. As much as we are welcoming the Chinese with open arms, the Muslim population in China is suffering and their hardship is only getting worse.
Muslims in China are increasingly living under a police state. The Xinjiang province in the far west of the country is the homeland of the Uighurs, a traditionally Muslim group who say they face discrimination. This past week, government officials notified the citizens of the predominantly Muslim Xinjiang province via WeChat, and instructed them to scan a QR code and download an Android surveillance app that scans mobile devices for “terrorist and illegal” content, including images, video, documents and e-books, Mashable reported. If such content is found, individuals would be instructed to delete it. Earlier this year, China introduced measures prohibiting ‘abnormally’ long beards, the wearing of veils in public places and refusing to watch state television.
As allies, Pakistan must negotiate with China, and ask the country to lessen its harsh policies on its Muslim citizens.
Fatma Siddiq
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2017.
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