It’s not all black and white
A fasting ban in China is the talk of the town nowadays. Journalistic circles in Pakistan are not ready to believe that fasting could be banned in any country. Even the brutal regime of Israel doesn’t put any restrictions on fasting by Palestinians in the holy month of Ramzan. So how China could put curbs on its own citizens for fasting?
This intriguing question compelled me to delve into the matter. Over the past few days, I contacted numerous officials and common citizens in China to get a true picture on this fasting ban.
The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang for short) is located in northwest China where Muslims are in majority. For thousands of years it has been a multi-ethnic region of multiple religions. At present, the major religions in Xinjiang are Islam, Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism and Taoism.
When contacted, a Chinese government official brushed aside the notion of fasting ban for Muslims, terming it a propaganda campaign to hurt the image of China among Muslims.
“There is nothing new in this propaganda campaign. Every year with the arrival of the holy month of Ramzan, a vicious propaganda campaign based on lies is projected just to harm the image of China and its valiant people. There is absolutely no ban on fasting in China. Rather, the Xinjiang government facilitates the Muslims fasting in Ramzan,” the official said.
“Chinese government never believed in putting curbs on ethnic minorities. Fasting ban in China is a false propaganda. This issue is actually being confused by some media organisations who don’t understand the system in China,” the official asserted.
An official in Xinjiang government also confirmed that no such ban has been officially enforced in the province. The official said that like the central government, the local governments at all levels of Xinjiang have fully implemented the system of regional ethnic autonomy and the policy on the freedom of religious belief, and constantly improved laws and regulations on the administration of religious affairs.
“All religions in Xinjiang have thus reached a new historical stage at which they coexist in harmony. Religious freedom is protected under the constitution in China, which the government strictly abides by. In case of minorities especially, the constitution is strictly followed to ensure harmony, peace and tranquility among peoples from various faiths and beliefs,” the official added.
The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China clearly stipulates: “Citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief.” “No state organ, public organisation or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion.” “The state protects normal religious activities. No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the state.”
According to the Regulations on Religious Affairs promulgated by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, and the Regulations of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Religious Affairs promulgated by the local government of Xinjiang, both reflect the above principles of the Constitution that “citizens enjoy freedom of religious belief” and that “the state protects normal religious activities.”
Under the law, it is a completely independent choice of citizens to believe in, or not believe in, any religion. No organisation or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion. No citizen suffers discrimination or unfair treatment for believing in, or not believing in, any religion.
Relevant rules and regulations of Xinjiang also have provisions on religious groups, venues for religious activities, clerical personnel, religious activities, religious property and related matters. Citizens’ freedom of religious belief and their obligations are unified; citizens who believe in or do not believe in any religion must fulfill the obligations prescribed by the Constitution and the law.
Anyone who infringes upon citizens’ freedom of religious belief shall bear the corresponding legal liability.
These activities are protected by law, and no organisation or individual may interfere with them. To ensure successful pilgrimages for believers in Islam, Xinjiang adopts a policy of organised and planned pilgrimages.
The official said President Xi Jinping strongly believed in implementing the constitution in letter and spirit.
“Specific directions have been passed on to government authorities in Xinjiang to ensure that Muslim citizens enjoy religious freedom,” the official added.
During my recent visit to Xinjiang province, I also tried to investigate the fasting ban. Most of the Muslims in Ürümqi and Kashgar, with whom I spoke to, mentioned that they faced no obstructions in fasting and neither have they been prohibited or reprimanded.
I also visited the main Eidgah Mosque in Kashgar city and found people offering prayers. The mosque is the largest in the country and attracts more than 10,000 Muslims on important religious occasions, like Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid-ul-Azha.
Mohammad Noor, a Muslim praying at Eidgah, said there was no restriction on fasting in Xinjiang. “We have full freedom to observe religious rituals,” he said.
During my interaction with people in Xinjiang, it came to the fore that those government servants who are members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) are advised not to observe fasting during their duties.
Since communists do not follow the teachings of Islam, they also do not observe fasting. So the government employees are guided not to fast as the ruling party does not encourage any religious activities.
Ahmed Ali, a religious scholar in Xinjiang, says that even Islam allows children, old and the ill not to fast as it may hamper their recovery and physical and mental growth.
Discussions with some of the schoolteachers at a local school in Urumqi revealed that the government has not banned fasting for students and teachers and rather they are encouraged not to observe fasting, ensuring their mental and physical growth and nourishment as fasting may harm their mental and physical growth.
“China puts education high on its priority. China’s school time starts from 8:00 in the morning and continues until 4 in the evening and if some children want to do homework at school, their timings could go beyond 6pm. Can anyone even think of studying all day long?” the head teacher argued. She said it gets more complicated if you are not a grown up man or woman.
“Since the Chinese nationals give top priority to education, it is beyond comprehension for kids to continue long hours of fasting while being in school. No one can survive this long study while fasting. Moreover, it is difficult to carry on for a month in a competitive environment,” she added.
Chinese government respects people’s freedom to believe in whatever they want to believe, but they discourage the promotion of any religions.
Citizens’ religious feelings and needs are fully respected. During the holy Islamic month of Ramzan whether to close or open halal (Muslim food) restaurants is completely determined by the owners themselves without interference. There are mosques with a tradition of having iftar and a number of religious believers provide free iftar to fasting people.