Life of ethnic Uyghur Muslims in the northwestern Chinese autonomous region Xinjiang often finds mention in the Western media, mostly cast in the negative based on allegations that the Muslims there are subjected to human rights violations. Reports often ignore the Chinese context, the long history of Xinjiang under Chinese rule, and the massive socio-economic development that Beijing has brought about.
Complaints by certain segments of society also accompany Beijing’s authority over Xinjiang. But, while Muslims follow their way of life, China’s central government as well as the authorities of the autonomous region have put in place a code of conduct that is binding on every Chinese citizen – regardless of whether Han, Uyghur, or Kazakh Chinese.
The region has seen staggering development in the last 15 years – evident from the 1.9 trillion yuan GDP recorded in 2023.
With a year-on-year growth of 6.8%, Xinjiang’s economic indicators rank among the top in the country.
The majority of Muslim inhabitants – the Uyghurs – practice their faith as they will. Unlike the disinformation spread in the Western media, the central government in Beijing offers incentives to all those living on the Chinese territories. Xinjiang is no exception.
The Xinjiang government also promotes the translation and publication of religious texts in various languages, including those on Islam and Buddhism.
Let us watch what an Australian journalist had to say after visiting the Xinjiang cities of Urumqi and Kashgar.
Western media usually applies its own prism to the situation in China in general and Xinjiang in particular. But the same media keeps mum and hardly questions how Israel has used an attack by Hamas on October 7 to decimate nearly 34000 Palestinians, including 15000 children. It ignores that no one would step forward if people were starving in the Chinese territories. The Chinese government has made sure to provide food, shelter, health coverage, and jobs to every single citizen.
