China’s Muslims banned from using own language in schools

Authorities in China’s Xinjiang region have banned Muslims from using their language in schools.  Communist party officials in the northwestern Chinese province have prohibited the use of the Uighur language from being used in pre-schools and secondary schools. This comes amid tighter strict restrictions on Muslims in the region including a ban on fasting during […]

Authorities in China’s Xinjiang region have banned Muslims from using their language in schools. 

Communist party officials in the northwestern Chinese province have prohibited the use of the Uighur language from being used in pre-schools and secondary schools.

This comes amid tighter strict restrictions on Muslims in the region including a ban on fasting during Ramadan earlier this year, as the state cracks down on Islamic culture in favour of Chinese values. 

A notice on the website of Xinjiang regional government said last month that the move in schools is meant to “fully popularise the national common language”. Signs around schools also have to be changed to Mandarin when the move comes into effect in September, in time for the new school year.

An Uighur official told Radio Free Asia that “even the Uighur textbooks will be replaced with Chinese textbooks from inland China”.

Although the Chinese government recognises 56 different ethnic minorities – including Uighurs – in the country, it has tried to crack down on different cultures to create a homogenous society under Communism. (Int’l Business Times)