Uyghur Muslims

Assalam Alaikum Brothers and Sisters,

You might have read and heard about the ethnic violence in the Westernpart of China, Xinjiang this past weekend. According to Chineseofficial media, 156 are dead and 1080 injured. However the unofficialfigures report that at least 600 people died in the clashed betweenUyghur Muslim and Han Chinese majority, and about 95% of the casualtiesare Uyghur Muslims. Chinese authorities have arrested at least 1400Uyghur s, claiming they took part in the riot. The official Chinesemedia, Xinhua, only shows the pictures of few Han Chinese injuries withno mention of the hundreds of Muslims who died in these clashes, puttingthe blame completely on the Muslims. The reality is far from it.

Please see the links below for some unbiased reporting.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0706/p06s04-woap.html

http://www.democracynow.org/shows/2009/7/7

The unrest in Xinjiang (East Turkistan), is near and dear to my heart.I am an Uyghur living in Chicago. My parents and the rest of the familyare still in Xinjiang. While they are away from Urumqi where theclashes happened, I still have not been able to get hold of them in pastcouple of days as the authorities have shut down internet and telephoneservices. I am praying every moment for their safety.

Uyghurs are the Turkic speaking Muslim people living in the northwestpart of China under occupation. Their short lived republic, EastTurkistan went under Chinese communist rule in 1950. Since then theyhave been subjected to severe discrimination because of their Muslimidentity and they have seen their 97% majority in Xinjiang shrink toalmost 50% in last few decades. There are many underlining sources oftension and humiliation of over 10 million Uyghur Muslims.

I am writing to you for your support in helping spread the word andplight of Uyghur Muslims. I go to Juma prayers and everyone prays aboutsuffering of the Palestinians, Kashmiris, Afghanis, Iraqis andChechnyans, however not once I have heard someone pray for the Uyghurs.

We are the forgotten people in this world and not even our Muslimbrothers and sisters have ever provided any moral support for us. WellI'm asking for the support in this hour of dire need. My brothers andsisters are being persecuted as we speak. They have been captured inmass arrests with no sight of what will happen to their future. Uyghurwoman with their children have went on street to protest against themass arrest of thousands of Muslim Uyghur men. Under communist Chineserule we are not allowed to practice our religion until the age of 18 andeven after the age of 18 if anyone who works for government liketeachers and doctor are not allowed to pray or go to Mosque. Ourchildren and teachers are force fed in schools during the month ofRamadan. There is a governmental agenda to slowly take Islam out ofcommon people's lives. Majority of the high paying jobs go to the HanChinese with a lot less qualification in our own home land. Our cultureis being slowly disappearing.

I urge you to send this to your friends and families and condemn thekillings and mass arrest of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. I ask you to pray forthe safety of the people of East Turkistan (Xinjiang), Uyghurs and HanChinese. I ask you to please stand in solidarity with your UyghurMuslim brothers. The moral support of Muslim community means a lot tome and the Uyghurs as we are desperate to be seen and heard by ourbrothers and sisters.I urge you to send a message of solidarity with Uyghur Muslims and prayfor them. I urge you to send this message to at least 5 other familymembers and friends.

Sincerely,Zulfiye OsmanNoman Khan (husband)