'Sinicisation' of Muslims in Xinjiang must go on, says Chinese official
October 13, 2018The “sinicisation” of religion in China’s troubled north-western region of Xinjiang must be upheld to promote ethnic solidarity and religious harmony, a senior Communist party official has said.
China’s state-run Xinhua news agency quoted You Quan, the head of the “united front work department”, which oversees ethnic and religious affairs, while on a visit this week to Xinjiang, home to a large Muslim population.
“The party’s leadership over religious work must be upheld,” You said, adding that “the infiltration of religious extremism must be guarded against”.
Sinicisation refers to non-Chinese societies being forced to conform to Chinese culture, particularly that of the ethnic Han majority. This includes dress code, religion, culture, politics and language.