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| Muhammadu Buhari and Xi Jinping |
A day later (12th July) a group of 37 countries signed a counter letter to the same authority. This letter sought to rubbish allegations of rights abuses against the Uighur Muslims.
16 of these countries are Muslim majority countries and 17 of them are African countries; Nigeria is one of those countries.
The letter read: "Faced with the grave challenge of terrorism and extremism, China has undertaken a series of counter-terrorism and deradicalization measures in Xinjiang, including setting up vocational education and training centers", among other praises.
For those who might not be au fait with happenings in Xinjiang, here are some worthy to know facts.
- Ramadan: Uighur Muslims are not allowed to fast in the month of Ramadan. The Chinese government says it is a form of extremism and it diminishes productivity. Muslims who own restaurants must also cook and keep their restaurants open in the month of Ramadan.
- Punctuality to Masjid: This is seen as a feature of radicalization. Children below the age of 18 are banned from going to the Masjid.
- Beard: Young people are not allowed to grow a beard. The authorities say it makes them look like terrorists.
- Hijab: It is illegal for Muslim women to wear a hijab, veil or anything garment that is generally ascribed to Islam.
- Islamic education: It is illegal to educate children below the age of 18 on Islam, even at home.
- Consuming alcohol & pork: Uighur Muslims are routinely rounded up and forced to drink alcohol and eat pork. It is seen as test to prove that they are not extremists.
- Islamic names: In April 2017, the Chinese government released a list of 29 names it considers 'evil' and hence, illegal to be borne by any Muslim. Some of these names are: Muhammad, Arafat, Mujahid, Islam, Madina, Saddam, Imam, Saifullah, Hussien, Saifuddeen, Usama, Shamsudeen, Nasrullah, Aisha, Khadija, Muslima, Mukhlisa and Fatima.
The Nigerian government through its agent has tried to portray itself as a pro-Islam government, so much so that Muslims who criticizes the government are often declared non-Muslims.
What could be Islamic about a government that supports the persecution of Muslims for financial gains?
Angola and Nigeria, for instance, have reportedly been given billions of dollars by China, for infrastructure projects. Egypt and Nigeria were among the largest buyers of Chinese goods.
Most Nigerian Muslims are oblivious of the fact Nigeria under the government of Muhammadu Buhari is a supporter of the persecution of the Uighur Muslims but, as we have come to accept in Nigeria, as long as it is Buhari; it has to be right.
According to a 2014 BBC World Service Poll, 80% of Nigerians view China's influence positively, with only 10% expressing a negative view, making Nigeria the most pro-Chinese nation in the world.
With the knowledge and enlightenment that has gone global about the atrocities being committed against Muslims by the Chinese government, Nigerian Muslims should begin to put their loyalty where it belongs.
Activists across the globe launched the BDS movement against Israel in a bid to end the Zionists' oppression of the Palestinians, it would make a whole lot of sense to start a similar movement against China.
Below is a list of countries that have condemned China's persecution of the Uighur Muslims
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium Canada
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Japan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Here are the 36 countries that have defended the Persecution of Uighur Muslims. The African countries are in red ink.
- Algeria
- Angola
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Bolivia
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Comoros
- Cuba
- DR Congo
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Gabon
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Congo
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Venezuela
- Zimbabwe
