China bans fasting during the month of Ramzan

Muslim officials and students have been reportedly banned from fasting in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang during the holy month of Ramzan.

The region of Xinjang is inhabited by nine million Uighurs, a Muslim ethnic minority who accuse China's leaders of snatching their political as well as religious rights.

The region has been in news recently for violence and ethnic disputes. However, China denies any claims of repressing the minority.

Zonglang Township in Xinjiang's Kashgar district said that it was restricted for the Communist party cadres, officials and even students to be a part of the Ramzan related activities.

The statement had appealed to the party leaders to bring food to local village leaders to ensure that they were not fasting during the month of Ramzan, reports the Express Tribune.

Similar restrictions were announced on local government websites, whereby the educational bureau of Wensu County urged schools to forbid students from visiting mosques.

The spokesperson of an exiled rights group, the World Uyghur Congress, said that China was adopting administrative ways to pressurize people to break their fasts.