News:

China has forced the imams of Xinjiang to dance while waving Chinese flags in the street, and swear to an oath that they will not teach religion to children as well telling them that prayer is harmful to the soul. At the same time, to keep the young people away from the mosques - public servants are forced to brandish the slogan that "our income comes from the CKP not from Allah". [Source: http://www.worldbulletin.net, 09 February 2015]

Comment:

Episode after episode instead of earning the respect and trust of the public, China's government is not known to publicly deliberate matters in an open inviting setting. It has resorted to public shaming acts reminiscent of the "Israeli" army's actions used in repeatedly forcing Palestinians to walk in streets stripped to their underwear for the sake of humiliation.

The Muslims and in particular the imams of the mosques in the Xinjiang (East Turkestan) have experienced overwhelming pressure from Chinese authorities to expel their Islamic beliefs and practices to give way to the secular way of life.  In a shameless act, with imams being forced to parade down public squares while dancing and holding the Chinese flags explicitly show how depraved the government tactics have been reduced to. Authorities chose to humiliate themselves using their symbols of their country. They carry out stern and swift procedures in doing away with any hint of change or perceived opposition otherwise viewed as potential threats to their system, they resort to force and threats quickly hindering any other voice.  Sending a double message to the public, one an open message to the Muslims of the region that their teachings will not be tolerated whatsoever, and the second indirect message for those who dare think of leaning towards other beliefs.  Furthermore, this reveals a deeper truth in their methods carried out by their forces to mold the people into their secular rigid way of life, that they do not have valid convincing rational discourse to counter other ideas, thus public debates and discussions are absent from their strategies. These acts create a schism in society of those who feel the anguish and resentment of being unable to openly voice their concerns and more importantly their beliefs, for example Imams and teachers, who are community mentors and respected for their calls are being silenced or shamed in hopes of abandoning their beliefs. The authorities have only succeeded in harboring feelings of resentment and apprehension in their citizens leaving a void in their society.  As such teachers nor imams will not abandon their teachings, since it is something taken out of sincere conviction bringing them an inner tranquility not found in their governments, thereby it is imperative that they teach their children and community members the tenets of Islam as it is an integral part of their lives. Fear mongering and public spectacles will not curb Muslims away from their Deen - on the contrary it will only reaffirm the dire need of the implementation of Islam in all spheres of life through an Islamic State- the Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah on the method of the Prophethood.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Manal Bader