A Pakistani travel vlogger’s tour of ancient Kashgar, an oasis town in China’s Xinjiang province famous for being the hub of the old Silk Road, has gone viral in his home country and for reasons that may seem puzzling.
The vlogger posted a video where he expressed surprise, maybe even shock, over the relative absence of religious activities. In fact, his video documented mosque-like structures being repurposed for commercial and cultural activities. There was even a dance performance underway in one such structure. His video showed locked doors of other mosques.
Now Xinjiang is China’s most populous Muslim-majority province with 56% of Muslims. Data from the Islamic Association of China dating back to 2014 showed 24,500 mosques (one presumes these are active).
The vlogger was aware of this. But for some reason, did not appear to take into account the fact that China is an officially atheist state. Religion is banned with loyalty and faith in God being reposed in the Communist Party of China. No less than Mao Dzedong, the founder of Communist China, is reported to have described religion as “poison”.
In practice China recognises five faiths that inlcude Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity and Islam. But adherents operate under strict rules, they should be registered with government bodies and are constantly watched for any deviation.
The state has also been tough with Islam, requiring “Sinicisation”, regulating prayer hours, removing Arab designs in mosque construction. This is well known but seems to have escaped our Pakistani vlogger.
In fact, his viewers back in Pakistan appeared to share his surprise or shock, wondering why “Iron Brother” China treated Islam and Muslims so. Some of these sentiments may be feigned but they also reflect on the credulity of Pakistanis who are not able to tell between high level political propaganda that plays out between Islamabad and Beijing, and the harsh practices of a Communist state.
The vlogger would do well to educate himself for his long-term benefit and those of his audience back home.
