China Discourages Fasting During Ramadan

Communist Party officials have posted notices banning or discouraging fasting, a move that directly affects the Uighur ethnic group.

BEIJING: China is discouraging some Muslims in the far western region of Xinjiang from fasting during Ramadan. The government says the move is motivated by health concerns, but others said Friday that it's a risky campaign to secularize the Muslim minority.

Several city, county and village governments in Xinjiang have posted notices on their websites banning or discouraging Communist Party members, civil servants, students and teachers from fasting during the religious holiday.