China Forces Uyghurs to Work During Ramadan to Prevent Fasting

Chinese authorities in Xinjiang are forcing Uyghurs to work during Ramadan to stop them from fasting, reports Radio Free Asia. Videos show Uyghurs doing unpaid labor, such as fieldwork and cleaning, under government orders. Officials also hold political study sessions during pre-dawn and evening meal times to disrupt fasting. Residents who resist are detained or sent to re-education camps. A local policeman said the purpose is to enforce Communist Party policies and detect signs of fasting, which is seen as an ideological threat. Muslims in China are banned from observing Ramadan freely.