China Forces Uyghurs to Work During Ramadan to Prevent Fasting

Chinese authorities in Xinjiang are compelling Uyghurs to work during Ramadan to hinder their fasting and religious practices, RFA reported. Reports indicate that Uyghurs are engaged in forced labor, including agricultural and cleaning tasks, during this holy month.

The Chinese government has implemented various measures to restrict religious observance among the approximately 12 million Uyghurs, including banning fasting and requiring proof of eating during the day. Videos have surfaced showing residents working in fields and performing collective cleaning tasks, with threats of detention for those who resist.

Those who refused to do the work would be detained in a local cadre’s office for 7-10 days or taken “to the camps” if their resistance was strong, local reports indicate, referring to the re-education camps Beijing built across Xinjiang.

Uyghurs are also mandated to attend political study sessions during sahur and iftar, further infringing on their religious practices. Authorities justify these actions as necessary for observing and educating Uyghurs about Communist Party policies, labeling any signs of fasting as an ideological issue.