Xinjiang Muslims' Struggle for Freedom

Xinjiang Muslims' Struggle for Freedom By  Politics in Depth Team   Xinjiang region is to the north-west of China. Watching China's 2008 Olympic Mascots jumping around in their colorful customs and fireworks lightning the sky of the massive country, you would be witnessing the bright side of the communist regime. On the other side stands a picture painted with red and green. In its dark green uniform, the Chinese army is cracking down on the inhabitants of the Muslim-majority region of East Turkistan (Xinjiang), killing so far 156 protestors, wounding hundreds, and arresting around 1,400. Muslims in Xinjiang (Uighurs) have been suffering under the Chinese authority for a long time. The region is rich with oil, gas reserves, and about 121 minerals out of the 148 that China produces. Accordingly, the communist regime has given itself a freehand to suppress the Muslim population, burn their Islamic books, demolish mosques, and work on erasing the ethnic Muslim identity off the region. The Chinese government has been ruling the province with iron fist for a long time and all is taking place with the silence of the international community. Must it be that Xinjiang Muslims have a charismatic leader in exile like that of Buddhists of the Tibet to get due international attention? What are the motives of the Chinese government? And who are the Xinjiang Muslims? IslamOnline. net presents this collective folder in an attempt to present a more comprehensive picture of the status of the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang. :: Xinjiang... China's Wealth Land Having the country's second largest oil producer, a versatile economy and located as a buffer zone against hot spots, resources-rich, Muslim-majority Xinjiang province is vital to China's economic and geopolitical interests... Muslim Silence & Uighur Persecution (Opinion) The harsh, brutal, and bloody crackdown by the Chinese authorities on the Uighur Muslim people in East Turkestan, also known as Xinjiang, cannot be tolerated any longer... Suffering of Muslims in China's Eastern Turkistan (Xinjiang) (Live Dialogue) If you have a look to the history of the Eastern Turkistan Muslim people, you will see that they have opted for the peaceful way... "The Chinese government banned our Arabic language that we used to have for more than a thousand years. They spoiled more than 730,000 Arabic books, including copies of the Qur'an, under the false motto 'Waste of the past'. " - Seyit Tumturk , Vice President of World Uyghur Congress told Politics in Depth. Read More: :: Favored Hans, Discriminated Against Uighurs :: China's Forgotten Muslims :: Xinjiang Brutality Sparks China Boycott Calls :: China Bans Xinjiang Mosque Prayers :: World Condemns Uighurs Tragedy :: Blood Stains Witness to Xinjiang Repression :: Audio Review: Islam in China :: Survival Consumes China Muslims :: China's Treatment of Muslims Under Fire :: Travel Restrictions for China Muslims :: China Bulldozes Uighur Identity :: Internet, Blogs Solace Oppressed Uighurs :: Eroding Uighur Identity :: China Muslims Lack Religious Freedom :: Uighur Muslims Slam Bombing, Crackdown :: Uighurs Decry China's Demolition Campaign :: China Executes Uighur Activist   :: Dreams of the Chinese Muslims :: Friday Prayers at Xinjiang Province (Picture File) :: Xinjiang Muslims Protest Discrimination :: China Restricts Islam :: "Severer" Security for Xinjiang Muslims :: Nobel Highlights Uighur Muslim Plight :: Security, Choreography Mark Silk Road Torch Relay(Picture File)