Asalaamu Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatu
Stand Up!
I say, Raise your head and wipe your eyes!
Cut the heads off your enemies! Let the blood flow!
-Abdul Khali, Uighur Poet & Political Activists
On June 5th, 2009 the world watched as violent riots broke out in the region of Xinjiang. These riots have left over 150 people dead and over 800 people injured. For those who may not know, Xinjiang is an autonomous region ofThe Peoples Republic of China and is often referred to as Chinese Turkestan, Sinkiang, East Turkestan, or Uyghuristan. This is also the region which is home to a majority of Chinas Muslim population and over the past few years have gain international headlines due to the fact that the Islamic Revival has taken much ground within this region. The people of Xinjiang, often referred to as the Uighur people, have suffered from immense persecution by the hands of the Chinese government. China has been notorious for its harsh treatment against Muslims within its nation. So much so that following September 11th, 2001 many indigenous Muslims within Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other major cities in China were forcibly removed and many exiled as a precaution. In September 2008, controversy flooded the international media outlets when the Chinese government forbid Muslims within the nation from fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. It was at this time that the Muslim Ummah began to notice that Africa, the Middle East, the Caucus, and South Asia were not the only areas where Muslims faced oppression at the hands of the kuffar. However as we see so often, once Ramadan ended and the controversy died down the Muslims went to sleep on this issue leaving our brothers and sisters within China, specifically Xinjiang, to suffer at the hands of the Chinese government while the Muslim Ummah sits silent. Now is the time to break that silence. We must understand the history of what taking place within Xinjiang is and how progress can be made if done so with continuous action and a sincere intention.
The History of The Xinjiang Conflict and The Persecution of Uighur Muslims
Many would be quick to believe that the conflict within Xinjiang began after the events of September 11th, 2001. In reality this conflict dates back father then the 1990s, as does the persecution against the Uighur Muslims within the region. It was not until the late 1990s and early 2000s that the Islamic Revival became what American diplomats called in 2000, the number one internal threat to Chinese national security and stability. However those who looked more closely at the conflict began to realize that this was not conflict due to the selfish desires of Muslim separatists, but instead was an act of resistance against the Iron Fist policies of the Chinese government which have been implemented on the Muslim population within Xinjiang. Richard Betts notes in his article regarding the genocide in Kosovo,
Perhaps the best illustration by analogy of choices for Kosovo comes from the untidy periphery of contemporary China. Is Kosovos future best exemplified by Tibet, Hong Kong, or Taiwan?
(The Lesser Evil: The Best Way Out of the Balkans, Page.59.)
Though he did not mention Xinjiang by name; the policies implemented within Tibet, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are the same as those implemented within Xinjiang and any other autonomous region controlled by the Chinese government. In fact it can be safely said that the people within Xinjiang have faced harsher treatment and persecution far beyond the levels of that seen in areas such as Tibet or Taiwan. The only reason anyone would disagree with this point would be due to the fact that the international media has focused primarily on these more popular regions. What makes a better news story then one about a bunch of poor Buddhist monks who refuse to defend themselves as a act of faith so they face violent persecution at the hands of the an oppressive Chinese government? Never will you see such media coverage exposing the injustice inflicted upon Muslims unless that injustice is done by so-called Muslim or unless they able to paint the conflict as a nationalistic or regional issue rather than an Islamic one, such as we saw recently during the Gaza Holocaust. We have even see within the few news reports regarding the conflict within Xinjiang that the media has tried to make this seem more like an ethnic conflict between the Uighur people and Han Chinese instead of an issue between an oppressive kufr government and the Muslims within China.
Xinjiang makes up one-sixth of Chinas land mass and contains some of the worlds largest oil deposits as well as Chinas nuclear test site known as Lop Nor. Knowing that the three most profitable markets that exist today are the Oil, Drug, and Guns market; it becomes easy to see why it is China would keep Xinjiang with such an Iron grip. To let it go would mean to let go of its economic value as well. Thus, Xinjiang is a prize catch for any Imperialistic nation with its abundance in resources and strategic position on the globe. Putting everything else aside, Xinjiang is also home to over 8 million Muslims.
Xinjiang fell under Chinese control in 1959 through the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) colonialism. Chinese rule brought many new and unwanted changes into the region. The people within the Xinjiang waged Jihad fiseebillah against the Chinese occupation for countless years. These conflicts forced the Chinese empire to allow Xinjiang to establish itself as an independent nation twice after its takeover by the Qing Dynasty. However in 1949 the Peoples Liberation Army marched into China implementing the Iron Fist policies we see still intact within the region today. As a way to prevent a violent uprising like those of the past, the Chinese attempted to indoctrinate Chinese Nationalism into the hearts and minds of the Uighur Muslims. Those who adopted the nationalistic ideology soon abandoned it due to the realization that there was no good in being a proud Chinese when you were treated as a second class citizen within you indigenous land by the government you were suppose to be proud of being a part of! In the midst of all of this strife from the south of the border of Xinjiang there came a sign of hope. The neighboring country of Afghanistan has abandoned all legislations of kufr and instead had adopted Islamic Shariah (i.e. Islamic law) under the leadership of Caliph Mullah Mujahid Omar. The people within Xinjiang began to understand through the example of their brothers in Afghanistan, that victory can only be achieved going in the way of Allah subhana wa taalaa with a pure intention by carrying out a ideological, political, and armed struggle all in pursuit of Allahs pleasure. This idea manifested into an authentic Islamic Revival within Xinjiang. Steadily the people began to return back to the Aqeedah and methodology of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jammah and many began preparing to wage Jihad fiseebillah against the Chinese occupation which was now growing nervous due to the newly adopted ideology and methodology of the Uighur Muslims. As time went on the tensions grew on dangerous levels between the Uighur Muslim population and the Han (i.e. Chinese) who now occupied the region of Xinjiang. It was then in the early 1990s Muslims within Xinjiang expressed their disapproval of Chinese rule through protests and often outburst of violence. Soon bus bombings occurred both in Xinjiang and Beijing, assassination of Chinese government officials reached an all time high, the conflict within Xinjiang had become deadly and was manifesting into an all out rebellion. Jihad had come to Xinjiang.
So we see that the struggle of our brothers and sisters in Xinjiang is not new, but rather dates back all the way to the 1700s. For 250-plus years our brothers and sisters within Xinjiang have faced persecution and have been forced to live under an oppressive kufr legislation.
What Is Happening Today & The Outcry from The Muslims in Xinjiang
As we mentioned in the beginning of this article, starting on June 5th, 2009 violent riots have been staged throughout the region of Xinjiang resulting in the death of over 150 people and over 800 have been injured. It has been claimed that the reason for these riots is that the Muslims within Xinjiang have accused the Chinese government of attempted to destroy their culture. Without a doubt the Chinese government has attempted to eradicate Islam from Xinjiang. The clear examples being the ban on fasting during the month of Ramadan and various restrictions against the religious practice of the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang.
As I have stated before in previous articles, it is conflicts such as these that Muslims have little knowledge and almost zero awareness of. Many have chosen to focus mainly on the conflicts within Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Caucus. Even though we should be focusing on these areas, it has sadly led to the neglect of our brothers and sisters in regions such as Xinjiang. There must be a balanced awareness and effort being put forth by the Muslim Ummah in order to provide every sort of support for our brothers and sisters in these neglected regions. I reiterate myself in saying that we must create an independent media front with an outlet focused on each Muslim region in the world. With these outlets political analysis, history, constant news updates can be provided so that we as an Ummah can continuously remain aware and knowledgeable about what is taking place within the world in regards to the Ummah. This is not something we can sit around and wait for others to do, but it is the duty of each and every one of you take it upon themselves to become frontline advocates for the resistance against the Ideological war against Islam.
JazakAllaahuKhair, Abdullah as-Sayf Jones
Stand Up!
I say, Raise your head and wipe your eyes!
Cut the heads off your enemies! Let the blood flow!
-Abdul Khali, Uighur Poet & Political Activists
On June 5th, 2009 the world watched as violent riots broke out in the region of Xinjiang. These riots have left over 150 people dead and over 800 people injured. For those who may not know, Xinjiang is an autonomous region ofThe Peoples Republic of China and is often referred to as Chinese Turkestan, Sinkiang, East Turkestan, or Uyghuristan. This is also the region which is home to a majority of Chinas Muslim population and over the past few years have gain international headlines due to the fact that the Islamic Revival has taken much ground within this region. The people of Xinjiang, often referred to as the Uighur people, have suffered from immense persecution by the hands of the Chinese government. China has been notorious for its harsh treatment against Muslims within its nation. So much so that following September 11th, 2001 many indigenous Muslims within Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other major cities in China were forcibly removed and many exiled as a precaution. In September 2008, controversy flooded the international media outlets when the Chinese government forbid Muslims within the nation from fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. It was at this time that the Muslim Ummah began to notice that Africa, the Middle East, the Caucus, and South Asia were not the only areas where Muslims faced oppression at the hands of the kuffar. However as we see so often, once Ramadan ended and the controversy died down the Muslims went to sleep on this issue leaving our brothers and sisters within China, specifically Xinjiang, to suffer at the hands of the Chinese government while the Muslim Ummah sits silent. Now is the time to break that silence. We must understand the history of what taking place within Xinjiang is and how progress can be made if done so with continuous action and a sincere intention.
The History of The Xinjiang Conflict and The Persecution of Uighur Muslims
Many would be quick to believe that the conflict within Xinjiang began after the events of September 11th, 2001. In reality this conflict dates back father then the 1990s, as does the persecution against the Uighur Muslims within the region. It was not until the late 1990s and early 2000s that the Islamic Revival became what American diplomats called in 2000, the number one internal threat to Chinese national security and stability. However those who looked more closely at the conflict began to realize that this was not conflict due to the selfish desires of Muslim separatists, but instead was an act of resistance against the Iron Fist policies of the Chinese government which have been implemented on the Muslim population within Xinjiang. Richard Betts notes in his article regarding the genocide in Kosovo,
Perhaps the best illustration by analogy of choices for Kosovo comes from the untidy periphery of contemporary China. Is Kosovos future best exemplified by Tibet, Hong Kong, or Taiwan?
(The Lesser Evil: The Best Way Out of the Balkans, Page.59.)
Though he did not mention Xinjiang by name; the policies implemented within Tibet, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are the same as those implemented within Xinjiang and any other autonomous region controlled by the Chinese government. In fact it can be safely said that the people within Xinjiang have faced harsher treatment and persecution far beyond the levels of that seen in areas such as Tibet or Taiwan. The only reason anyone would disagree with this point would be due to the fact that the international media has focused primarily on these more popular regions. What makes a better news story then one about a bunch of poor Buddhist monks who refuse to defend themselves as a act of faith so they face violent persecution at the hands of the an oppressive Chinese government? Never will you see such media coverage exposing the injustice inflicted upon Muslims unless that injustice is done by so-called Muslim or unless they able to paint the conflict as a nationalistic or regional issue rather than an Islamic one, such as we saw recently during the Gaza Holocaust. We have even see within the few news reports regarding the conflict within Xinjiang that the media has tried to make this seem more like an ethnic conflict between the Uighur people and Han Chinese instead of an issue between an oppressive kufr government and the Muslims within China.
Xinjiang makes up one-sixth of Chinas land mass and contains some of the worlds largest oil deposits as well as Chinas nuclear test site known as Lop Nor. Knowing that the three most profitable markets that exist today are the Oil, Drug, and Guns market; it becomes easy to see why it is China would keep Xinjiang with such an Iron grip. To let it go would mean to let go of its economic value as well. Thus, Xinjiang is a prize catch for any Imperialistic nation with its abundance in resources and strategic position on the globe. Putting everything else aside, Xinjiang is also home to over 8 million Muslims.
Xinjiang fell under Chinese control in 1959 through the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) colonialism. Chinese rule brought many new and unwanted changes into the region. The people within the Xinjiang waged Jihad fiseebillah against the Chinese occupation for countless years. These conflicts forced the Chinese empire to allow Xinjiang to establish itself as an independent nation twice after its takeover by the Qing Dynasty. However in 1949 the Peoples Liberation Army marched into China implementing the Iron Fist policies we see still intact within the region today. As a way to prevent a violent uprising like those of the past, the Chinese attempted to indoctrinate Chinese Nationalism into the hearts and minds of the Uighur Muslims. Those who adopted the nationalistic ideology soon abandoned it due to the realization that there was no good in being a proud Chinese when you were treated as a second class citizen within you indigenous land by the government you were suppose to be proud of being a part of! In the midst of all of this strife from the south of the border of Xinjiang there came a sign of hope. The neighboring country of Afghanistan has abandoned all legislations of kufr and instead had adopted Islamic Shariah (i.e. Islamic law) under the leadership of Caliph Mullah Mujahid Omar. The people within Xinjiang began to understand through the example of their brothers in Afghanistan, that victory can only be achieved going in the way of Allah subhana wa taalaa with a pure intention by carrying out a ideological, political, and armed struggle all in pursuit of Allahs pleasure. This idea manifested into an authentic Islamic Revival within Xinjiang. Steadily the people began to return back to the Aqeedah and methodology of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jammah and many began preparing to wage Jihad fiseebillah against the Chinese occupation which was now growing nervous due to the newly adopted ideology and methodology of the Uighur Muslims. As time went on the tensions grew on dangerous levels between the Uighur Muslim population and the Han (i.e. Chinese) who now occupied the region of Xinjiang. It was then in the early 1990s Muslims within Xinjiang expressed their disapproval of Chinese rule through protests and often outburst of violence. Soon bus bombings occurred both in Xinjiang and Beijing, assassination of Chinese government officials reached an all time high, the conflict within Xinjiang had become deadly and was manifesting into an all out rebellion. Jihad had come to Xinjiang.
So we see that the struggle of our brothers and sisters in Xinjiang is not new, but rather dates back all the way to the 1700s. For 250-plus years our brothers and sisters within Xinjiang have faced persecution and have been forced to live under an oppressive kufr legislation.
What Is Happening Today & The Outcry from The Muslims in Xinjiang
As we mentioned in the beginning of this article, starting on June 5th, 2009 violent riots have been staged throughout the region of Xinjiang resulting in the death of over 150 people and over 800 have been injured. It has been claimed that the reason for these riots is that the Muslims within Xinjiang have accused the Chinese government of attempted to destroy their culture. Without a doubt the Chinese government has attempted to eradicate Islam from Xinjiang. The clear examples being the ban on fasting during the month of Ramadan and various restrictions against the religious practice of the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang.
As I have stated before in previous articles, it is conflicts such as these that Muslims have little knowledge and almost zero awareness of. Many have chosen to focus mainly on the conflicts within Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Caucus. Even though we should be focusing on these areas, it has sadly led to the neglect of our brothers and sisters in regions such as Xinjiang. There must be a balanced awareness and effort being put forth by the Muslim Ummah in order to provide every sort of support for our brothers and sisters in these neglected regions. I reiterate myself in saying that we must create an independent media front with an outlet focused on each Muslim region in the world. With these outlets political analysis, history, constant news updates can be provided so that we as an Ummah can continuously remain aware and knowledgeable about what is taking place within the world in regards to the Ummah. This is not something we can sit around and wait for others to do, but it is the duty of each and every one of you take it upon themselves to become frontline advocates for the resistance against the Ideological war against Islam.
JazakAllaahuKhair, Abdullah as-Sayf Jones
