Chinese police have been using detectives in order to prevent Uyghur Muslims from fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
The spies, which Chinese officials call “ears,” are drawn from ordinary citizens, police officers, and members of neighbourhood committees, Radio Free Asia reported, citing a police officer from an area near Turpan, in eastern Xinjiang, the Uyghur Autonomous Region. Speaking to Radio Free Asia, the police officer said, “We have many secret agents.”
China began prohibiting Muslims in Xinjiang from fasting during Ramadan in 2017 when officials began arbitrarily imprisoning Uyghurs in “re-education” camps in an effort to degrade Uyghur culture, language, and religion, as per the news report.
The Chinese authorities had shown some relaxation in 2021 and 2022 when people above the age of 65 were allowed to fast, and the police reduced the number of home searches and their patrolling as well.
This year the Chinese government has taken a tough step and banned people of all ages from fasting, Radio Free Asia reported, citing a political official at Turpan City Police Station.
The Chinese authorities summoned at least 56 Uyghur residents and several former detainees and quizzed them regarding their activities, making it clear that 54 people violated the law by fasting.
Two or three spies were engaged in each village to keep an eye on people so that no one could violate the law.