‘Sinicisation of Muslims Must Continue’ Says Chinese Official As China Continues Its ‘Strike Hard’ Campaign

The Muslim-dominated North Western-region of Xinjiang must be ‘sinicised’ to promote ethnic solidarity and religious harmony said a senior Communist party official, as reported by The Guardian.

Sinicisation refers to non-Chinese societies being necessitated to conform to Chinese culture, particularly that of the ethnic Han majority. This includes dress code, religion, culture, politics and language.

The Xinhua news agency quoted You Quan, the head of the “united front work department”, which oversees ethnic and religious affairs “The party’s leadership over religious work must be upheld,” Quan said, adding that “the infiltration of religious extremism must be guarded against”.

A million-plus Muslims are reportedly being held in Chinese re-education camps as part of its ‘strike hard’ campaign against religious extremism. Xinjiang authorities had retroactively legitimised the use of the camps some time back.

Mass detentions and strict surveillance of ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang have provoked international criticism, with the United States considering sanctions against companies and officials linked to allegations of human rights abuses. The UN had earlier called on China to shut down the camps.