Xinjiang Muslims gear up for Friday prayers, but at home

October 7th, 2009 CAIRO - A senior Al Qaeda leader in a video distributed Wednesday urged Muslims to launch a holy war against Chinese "invaders" in response to the "massacre" of Uighurs in western China. "The atheist criminals have long used the most despicable, cruel and brutal means against Muslims in Turkistan," said Abu Yayha al-Libi, who is sometimes identified as the commander in Afghanistan of the international terrorist network Al Qaeda.

September 21st, 2009 BEIJING - The Chinese government Monday published a white paper on the development and progress in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region. The paper termed national unification, ethnic unity and social stability as important for the region's development.

September 20th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Expressing solidarity with the Chinese Government over the recent communal conflict in Xinjiang, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has said that the unrest was an attempt to destabilize China, and suggested that it was fanned by 'hidden hands'. In a joint letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Secretary General Mushahid Hussain said they are with the people of China and would stand by them in thick and thin.

September 6th, 2009 URUMQI - In the aftermath of Xinjiang riots that erupted on July 5, the party chief of Urumqi and police chief of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have been sacked. According to a decision by the CPC Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Committee, Li Zhi, secretary of the Urumqi Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was replaced by Zhu Hailun.

September 5th, 2009 URUMQI - The communist party chief of Xinjiang capital Urumqi and the police chief of northwest China's Xinjiang region were removed from their posts Saturday. Li Zhi, secretary of the Urumqi Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was replaced by Zhu Hailun, secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Political and Legislative Affairs Committee, according to a decision by the CPC Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Committee.

August 26th, 2009 UYGUR - Chinese President Hu Jintao, who made his first trip to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region since last month's deadly riot, has warned the separatists that they are "doomed to fail". The July 5 riot, which killed 197 people and injured more than 1,600, were masterminded by the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism both at home and abroad, he said.

August 3rd, 2009 BAGHDAD - More than 21,000 Iraqi soldiers will provide security for Shia Muslims gathering in the city of Karbala in the coming days, a senior military officer said Monday. Hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims are expected to converge on the tomb of Hussein, the Prophet Mohammed's grandson, who was killed in battle in Karbala in the year 680.

July 11th, 2009 URUMQI - Authorities in northwest China's Xinjiang province Saturday said that tourism and air transport have been affected by the July 5 ethnic violence that claimed at least 184 lives. Authorities in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region said Saturday both tourism and air transport have been hurt by the July 5 riot that left 184 dead in Urumqi, the regional capital.

July 10th, 2009 URUMQI - Some mosques in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi were closed Friday following Sunday's deadly riot that left at least 156 people dead, a Chinese official said. All five major mosques near the Southern Jiefang Road, centre of Sunday's violence, were closed Friday morning.

July 10th, 2009 DUBAI - Friday prayers were cancelled in China's Urumqi city where riots have left at least 156 people dead and over 1,000 injured, a media report said. "Chinese authorities have cancelled Friday Muslim prayers in Urumqi amid security concerns as troops try to keep control following days of deadly unrest in the city," Al Jazeera reported Friday.

July 9th, 2009 BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao vowed "severe punishment" for the perpetrators of the Xinjiang riots that left at least 156 people dead and over 1,000 injured, a statement said Thursday. Hu Wednesday night presided over a meeting of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) standing committee of the politburo of the central committee.

July 9th, 2009 GUANGZHOU - Many tourist agencies are calling off group trips to China's Xinjiang region following the recent deadly riots in Urumqi city that left at least 156 people dead and over 1,000 injured. "We are hoping that travel can resume by July 20, but it depends on the status in Xinjiang", said Tang Qiting, deputy manager with Guangzhilu International Travel Service in Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong province.

July 2nd, 2009 ASTANA - Tensions exist between India's Muslims and Hindus because the two communities do not know enough about each other, an Indian delegate at the global faith conference here contended Thursday. "Yes, tensions do exist but they exist because Muslims and Hindus don't know about each other," Zafar Yunus Sareshwala, the CEO of Mumbai Stock Exchange-listed financial services provider Parsoli Corporation, maintained during the plenary on "Solidarity specially in the period of crisis", on the concluding day of the third Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions here.

June 5th, 2009 Uighurs urge court to order releaseWASHINGTON — Lawyers for Guantanamo detainees who continue to be held, though they have been cleared for release, urged the Supreme Court on Friday to put teeth into a year-old ruling that allowed the prisoners to challenge their confinement. Lawyers representing a group of Chinese Muslims said federal judges and the Obama administration have rendered the high court's decision worthless, by insisting that judges lack the power to order release of detainees into the United States if no other country will take them.

June 5th, 2009 Chinese Muslims urge high court to order releaseWASHINGTON — Lawyers for Guantanamo detainees who continue to be held, though they have been cleared for release, urged the Supreme Court on Friday to put teeth into a year-old ruling that allowed the prisoners to challenge their confinement. Lawyers representing a group of Chinese Muslims said federal judges and the Obama administration have rendered the high court's decision worthless, by insisting that judges lack the power to order release of detainees into the United States if no other country will take them.