Xinjiang enjoys full freedom of religion, says senior official

Residents in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region enjoy complete freedom in religious beliefs, a senior official said on Friday.

"Our practice shows Xinjiang residents' religious needs have been fully satisfied. The religious groups of the region in return contributed to local economic growth and stability. Local government has also seen progress in its administrative capacity over the sector," said Mehmut Usman, director of the region's Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau.

Mehmut made the remarks at a news conference briefing Chinese and foreign journalists on religious freedom in the region.

The director said the normal religious practices are protected by the Chinese Constitution and Xinjiang's regulations on religious affairs, but the rules forbid activities that disrupt public order, harm people's health or obstruct the national education system under the guise of religion.

The local government has taken multiple measures to safeguard normal religious demands and free access to religious information, the director said.

Flights to Mecca, Saudi Arabia have been chartered every year since 1996 to help local people pay pilgrimages. Assistance including translation and healthcare was also available.

A total of 10 Islamic institutes have been established across the region to train clergy in mosques, so as to meet people's religious needs.

People could access religious information through channels including authorized religious sites, periodicals and websites, he said.

To improve the infrastructure in mosques, "Xinjiang has also launched a program to add facilities including tap water, electricity, heating, toilets, and radio and television to such places," he said, adding mosque clergy members have been included in the social security system and were granted living allowances every month.

According to a report released by the central government in 2017, Xinjiang has printed and distributed 1.76 million copies of the Quran and Sahih al-Bukhari, one of six major hadith collections of Sunni Islam. An internet portal for Xinjiang's Muslims is also available in Uygur and Chinese.

Religious organizations have also organized training courses on religious knowledge and etiquette for citizens with religious beliefs, the report said.

Mehmut also noted that under the influence of foreign religious extremism, Xinjiang has also seen a spread of these forces, which have jeopardized national security, social stability and unity among different ethnic groups.

The local government has cracked down on people advocating extremism and terrorism, and has tried to satisfy people's spiritual needs by developing outstanding traditional cultures among different ethnic groups. They have also worked to contain extremism through international cooperation, he said.

"The practices so far have effectively contained the spread of such forces," he said.