Cross posted from: https://feddit.de/post/11367068

“The reason for arrest is that he stopped others from smoking and drinking,” said the officer. “He is not a religious figure.”

Abstaining from alcohol is one of 75 different activities and behaviors identified by the Chinese government as a sign of potential religious extremism. It is listed in brochures distributed in some parts of Xinjiang to educate the public on how to identify extreme religious activities.

It is also a cause for jailing Uyghurs, who as Muslims abstain from drinking alcohol, as part of a larger effort by Beijing to eradicate Uyghur culture and religion.

Initially, the Uyghur was “educated” in a camp for two years, but in 2019, he was sentenced and transferred to prison, they said.

Xaneriq village consists of 23 smaller communities with a total population of 31,000 people, averaging around 1,400 people in each community.

About 800 people live in Tawaqchi community, of which more than 100 were in prison, with some serving indefinite sentences in internment camps, an Uyghur expatriate said.

[Edit typo.]

  • @Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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    27 days ago

    So… Just to clarify: if I traveled to China and let slip to the authorities that I no longer drink alcohol and am also an ex-smoker, would they arrest me, an atheist, for “potential religious extremism” or would I have to be a Muslim too for THAT particular bit of oppression?

    • Zagorath
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      4927 days ago

      The laws are an excuse to continue their genocide against the Uyghurs. They have no interest in enforcing them against foreign tourists or even Han Chinese.

    • 520
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      27 days ago

      You would have to be a Muslim. Not drinking and smoking is usually something that they like to promote in their citizenry.

      Not that they aren’t shitty towards Atheists, but it’s a whole 'nother level with the Uyghurs. Think post-9/11 islamaphobia taken to wild, CCP level extremes, and you’re not far off the level they take it and their ‘rationale’ for doing so. (Basically there were a few terrorist attacks years back and the CCP has been milking it as an excuse for their conduct)

    • @Nasan
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      327 days ago

      You have to make sure you say, “according to the government” at the end of your statement. It’s the CCP’s “no homo”.

      • @Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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        627 days ago

        Nah, we’re not on Lemmygrad, Hexbear, or .ml, so I should be able to accurately criticize the atrocious actions of the Chinese government without being banned from World News again lol

  • Cosmoooooooo
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    27 days ago

    Of course, in China, it’s illegal to spread religious lies, hate, religious fiction, and complete nonsense.

    China has decided to reeducate religious extremists in an attempt to bring them into the 21st century, and if they don’t comply, they end up in jail for spreading obvious lies.

    I hope they also got the priest that decided spreading religious hate and bullshit to people in China would be a good idea.

    Don’t like it? The west’s answer is to let religious extremists propagate until they commit terror acts, then they are arrested. Then the same priest that radicalized the last religious terrorist keeps on radicalizing more, and more people until retirement. If it happens in another country, we declare war and kill millions of innocent people along with the radicals. I don’t consider this a better solution in any way.

    • NoneOfUrBusiness
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      2727 days ago

      I’ve seen tankies, and I’ve seen militant atheists, but trying to claim that advising people to not smoke or drink is “religious lies, hate, religious fiction, and complete nonsense” is a new one.

    • @answersplease77@lemmy.world
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      1327 days ago

      reeducate religion exterimists my ass stop the propagonda bs. They jailed 2 millions from the ethnic minority of the same pronvince. It is ethnic cleansing and everyone knows it

      • @Ferrous@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        -927 days ago

        Except we arrived at that 2 million number based on the testimony of a handful of “random” citizens in the region, and also Uyghurs are exempt from the one-child policy. On top of that, diplomats from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, Tunisia and Bosnia have all visited Xinjiang and expressed support for their methods in fighting extremism.

        Maybe try reading things that aren’t from Adrien Zenz or Radio Free Asia.

    • @Railcar8095@lemm.ee
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      627 days ago

      Of course, in China, it’s illegal to spread religious lies, hate, religious fiction, and complete nonsense.

      What’s the sentence for promoting Chinese traditional medicine? Must be severe given it’s all lies, fiction and general nonsense.

      • BrikoXM
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        26 days ago

        Your comment in “China: Uyghur served 7 years in jail for advising others not to drink or smoke. It is the first time that one of the jailed residents from Xaneriq village are released alive.” posted in !globalnews@lemmy.zip was removed.
        Reason: Rule 3 - Respectful Communication.

        Please read the community rules.

    • @Kedly@lemm.ee
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      227 days ago

      Not smoking or drinking is religious extremism now? Yeah, welcome to the ban list

    • @phoenixz@lemmy.ca
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      227 days ago

      Oh yeah, most religious terrorists totally didn’t become religious and a terrorist after being oppressed or abused by the governments they attack. Yes, playing Devil’s advocate here, but nobody just one day wakes up and decides to murder a bunch of kids for no reason.

      The Chinese government is creating terrorists, not eradicating them.