Ma Xingrui, a senior official of the Communist Party of China, declared on 7th March that the “Sinicisation” of Islam in Xinjiang is inevitable. Speaking at a media briefing during the annual parliamentary sessions in Beijing, Ma stated, “Everyone knows that Islam in Xinjiang needs to be Sinicised, this is an inevitable trend.”
He emphasized the importance of “coordinate security and development” and highlighted the crackdown on terrorist activities in the region. Xinjiang officials also showcased the economic growth and tourism potential of the region during the briefing.
The push for Sinicisation of Islam in Xinjiang comes after the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the region, where he instructed officials to promote the assimilation of Islam into Chinese culture. Reports indicate that over two-thirds of Xinjiang’s mosques have suffered damage or destruction since 2017.
Critics accuse China of violating the human rights of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, with allegations of mass imprisonment, torture, forced labor, and genocide. Despite international condemnation, Chinese officials continue to assert the Sinicisation of Islam as an inevitable process in the region.
Image Source: Opindia
