China launches campaign against fundamentalists in Xinjiang

The campaign is aimed at promoting social harmony,patriotism and ethnic unity,says official.

China’s troubled northwest Xinjiang province has launched a series of public lectures to rally mass support for the government’s religious policies and also to counter illegal activities by fundamentalists.

The lecture campaign will be carried out in every village and residential community in the province throughout the year,a vast region featuring a large population of Uyghurs,or ethnic Chinese Muslims,state-run Xinhua news agency quoted officials as saying.

The campaign will elaborate on the government’s religious policies and the danger of illegal religious activities,while lecturers from religious circles will advocate proper dress codes,patriotism and efforts to promote peace and discourage violence,they said.

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Xokait Imin,a top official from the Xinjiang regional government,said the campaign is aimed at promoting social harmony,patriotism and ethnic unity,as well as rallying

unified support for developing the region.

While Uyghurs traditionally practice a moderate form of Islam,incidents of religious extremism have been on the rise,security experts said.

Uyghurs,Muslims of Turkik origin have been protesting against the settlements of Han community from the mainland.

Separatist outfit,East Turkistan Islamic Movement has carried out several violent incidents in the last few years.

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