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RAMADAN IN EAST TURKISTAN
My name is Aziz Tursuncan. I go to primary school in
Besbalik town where is near capital city (Urumci) of
East TURKISTAN.
Today was begining of the Ramadan. I could not
understand that reason of my dady's suddenly standing
me up at midnight.
I asked to my dady.
- What happened dady ?
He ansewered:
-Today is first day of Ramadan. Muslims fasts in
Ramadan.We wake up for "Sahur" time (meal before dawn
during fasting) to fast, at midnights this is "Sunnet"
(muslims' rule).
Dady took my hand and took me to kitchen to have meal.
Wow ! Why all neighbours turned the light on.When I
press the button to turn on the light , dady stopped
me.
And warned me:
-Don't my son! If Hitaians (Chineses) realize that our
waking up for Sahur, They arrest and take us to prison!
I asked to him:
-Ok but , what is the wrong with them ?
He answered
-They are infidel! They use all powers they have to
keep us away from
our faith.
And told me:
Don't forget that your old brother has been martyred.
I had told it you before..Do you remeber?
I remember that my brother has been martyred because
of raising name of Allah. For freedom of Uyghurs!
It bacame 06:00 pm. My mother woke me up.
And warned me:
-Don't forget my son. Today you fast. So you will eat
nothing and drink nothing too until evening. Do you
promise ?
I said :
-Yes I do.
When my mother brought me to school every students had
become ready for sport practise which is committee by
Hitaian (Chinese) teachers in the mornings.
We got in class when we completed our morning
practise.by the way it became 07:00 pm. Hitaian
teachers work to teach us Chinese with hand mimics. If
we speak in Uygurish (Our National language), they
beat us.
I could not understand reason of this!.....
Time was passing and lunch holiday was coming soon. My
Hitaian teacher called me at the last term before the
last class. And said me " come on Tin Suan. (It's the
Chinese name they had given me ) "Let's talk something
with you " and asked to me that how were my mother and
father in good Uygurish speech.
I answered:
-They are ok Sir!
He asked to me:
-What are you doing at home . I am really wondered.
Tell me what have you been doing and how have you been
spending your time since last night?
I knew that my friends were jealous of me because of
my teacher being interested in me.
and I answered pleasurely:
-My father came home. We had dinner, watched tv and I
went to bed.
He asked to me :
-Is it all ? I think you have more something to say!
I said:
-Oh! yes. We also woke up and had meal at midnight. We
are muslim, we should fast. So we should have meal at
midnight. Then we should not eat anything until
evening.....
My teacher suddenly stood up and ran towards School
Manager and the person who was in Army Uniform. I
thought that he had given up to be interested in me.
He began to tell something them by showing me. I
thought that he was talking about my being respectful
and clever student!
The class had over before the lunch holiday! It became
lunch time.
I suddenly realized that my mother's warnings! I had
promised to her that I would not eat and drink
anything until evening! So my mother had not put any
meal into my bag. Anyway nobody can have meal exact
Hitaians teachers and students at refectory.
My Hitaian teacher called me near him and said me " it
is free having lunch for everyone for today!" Wow ! I
was surprised! They used to beat us if we want to
borrow a pencil from them in normal times.
And I said him:
-Thank you Sir but I can't have meal today. Because I
promised to my mother to not to eat anything until
evening!
The pain of slap which was slammed on my cheek had not
over although became evening!
Hitaian teacher forced me to eat after he had slapped
on me! I had promised to My mother.
I could'nt know what I would do!
I could not stop my tears while I was backing home! I
could not understand !And I asked my self:
"Is it a crime to be a Muslim or to be a Uyghur or to
promise to My mother?" I really could not understand!
Suddenly I remembered my friend Rahimullah who used to
stay at home nears us! His father was caught while he
was teaching him verse of Quran (Koran). Hitaians took
his parents into prison and took him into orphanage! I
had heard this when my mother talked with her friends.
Rahimullah never speaks in Uygurish right now! He also
says that "I am a Hitaian" (Chinese)...
I could see my home from long distance but I could not
understand reason of military vehicle's parking beside
our home! I could see soldiers' beating my parents. My
father was saying "Allah-u ekber" by shouting. My
mother was in tears! I began to run towards them.
Suddenly a soldier hold me down.
My mother said him by shouting:
-Set my son free....!!
My mother fell down beacuse of the soldier hitting her
with his rifle butt! She fainted! She could not speak.
My Father was saying "Allah-u Ekber" by shouting
although his hands were tied!
I saw a woman's coming to me while I was working to
escape from the soldier who had hold me. She said the
soldier who was holding me:
-He must be this!
And ordered them to take me into army vehicle....
I said them:
-Set me free! I want to be with my mother and father!
Where are you taking me?
They said me:
-Don't worry Tin Suan! You will have a new house in
Urumci!
Translated by : Musa Cavus
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