The control over various religious activities has been strenthening in Eastern
Turkistan and other regions of China. The notices prohibiting 18 years old people
to read namaz are hung in all the mosques of Turkistan. If somebody breaks the rule, then
his parents will be fined for 3000- 5000 yuan. But if they can't pay such a sum, their
child will be put in jail for 3- 5 years.
The study of Koran is also prohibited. For the infringement of
this rule it will be imposed a fine from 5000 to 40000 yuans. But if one who commited a
breach of this rule can't pay the sum he will be sentenced to 5 - years'
imprisonment. Nowadays the average income of a peasant is approximately 4000 yuan, so it
is clear what a great sum is this fine.
It is also imposed a forbition for the participation of 6 to 15
years old children in discussion on religious themes. The children of this age
areprohibited to take part in Friday namaz and they are not allowed to leave
the school until the namaz is over. If a pupil commited a breach of this rule he loses the
right for education.
In 1980s the Chinese Government did not pay attention to
religious orientation of its officials but in 1996 within "Strike Hard" campaign
Chinese Government issued the following decree "No religion liberty to Government
officials". For the breach of this decree the man who commited it will be discharged.
Furthermore it is also prohibited to imams to conduct the
religious propaganda otherwise they will be punished on a legal basis with all
severity.
Translated by Mehrigul Qadir |