Xinjiang Authorities Detain More Than 40 for Possessing "Illegal Religious Materials"

Authorities in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region have detained a Uighur religious instructor and 37 of her students, according to the German-based World Uighur Congress and as reported by Agence-France Presse on August 15. Aminan Momixi, 56, was teaching the Koran to students between the ages of 7 and 20 in her home on August 1, when police detained the group. Police accused Momixi of "illegally possessing religious materials and subversive historical information" and reportedly denied her access to a lawyer. Although central government officials assured the foreign press in March 2005 that minors are allowed to worship freely in China, the Xinjiang government prohibits children under 18 years of age from entering mosques or receiving religious instruction even in their own homes. Students may not observe religious holidays, fast during Ramadan, or wear religious clothing in public schools.

The U.S.-based Uyghur Human Rights Project reported August 3 that police in central Xinjiang detained three Uighurs on July 20 for possession of the Mishkat-ul Misabih, a religious text describing the life and work of the prophet Muhammed. The Chinese government strictly controls the printing and publication of religious texts. All Islamic texts must be approved by the government's China Islamic Association before publication.