Learning and Identifying 75 Religious Extreme Activities in Parts of Xinjiang

Last updated Nov 26, 2022

Read the document and translated version here: https://xinjiang.sppga.ubc.ca/chinese-sources/online-sources/identifying-religious-extremism/

Originally released in 2017, “Learning and Identifying 75 Religious Extreme Activities in Parts of Xinjiang” highlighted different activities and behaviors deemed to be indicative of religious extremism by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Committee of the Communist Party of China. Community members were encouraged to report individuals to the police for engaging in any of the activities aforementioned. These activities include but are not limited to suddenly quitting smoking or drinking, abnormal communication with neighbors, and men having long beards or wearing short-legged pants. Dr. Darren Byler has archived, annotated, and translated this document into English from the original Chinese text. The original piece has been archived here and can also be found below. For more contextualized information regarding these documents, review the following Chinese articles: Some areas in Xinjiang learn to identify 75 kinds of religious extremist activities and Local people in Xinjiang organized people to identify 75 religious extreme activities.

Translated and annotated by Dr. Darren Byler

In 2013, Xinjiang issued Document No. 11-“Several Guidance Opinions on Further Governing Illegal Religious Activities According to Law and Restraining the Infiltration of Extreme Religious Thoughts (for Trial Implementation)”, which organized study across Xinjiang. The following is the full text of the book “Recognize Religious Extremism Activities:75 Specific Manifestations”

Religious extremism is not a religion, it is the object we want to contain and combat. Religious extremism in Xinjiang is often intertwined with ethnic separatism and violent terrorism. Under the banner of religion and distorting religious teachings, the ultimate goal of religious extremism is to create ethnic separatism and carry out violent terrorist activities. If the general public discovers suspicious people around with the following characteristics, please contact the police, as social stability depends on everyone.

1. Advocating to split Xinjiang, establish an “East Turkestan Islamic State”, and establish Shariah law.
2. Resisting and attacking current policies and regulations, advocating the use of the Qur’an to regulate all of social life, and blindly excluding and attacking things that do not comply with Islamic teachings.
3. Advocating for and excluding “infidels”, isolating ethnic minority party cadres, excluding people from other ethnicities, or forcing others to believe in religion.
4. Inciting “jihad” to advocate for and implement violent terrorist activities.

Religious extremism activities in the initial stage are often manifested as opposition to traditional activities and customs and the existing legal and political system. The purpose of this is to promote deference for extremist ideas.

5. Using the fact that religious people receive government subsidies, extremists abuse and insult patriotic religious people and refuse to enter mosques to participate in normal religious activities.
6. In opposition to normal religious activities, extremists argue with religious people about Shariah, Islamic teachings, and promote extremist ideas.
7. Distorting Xinjiang’s history, extremists do not recognize that Buddhism and other religions circulated in Xinjiang’s history, and they exclude other ethnicities and cultures from Xinjiang’s history.
8. Using labels such as “infidels” and “religious heretics,” extremists insult and exclude grassroots-level organizational 组织 zǔzhī staff and Party member cadres. With regards to ethnic minority cadres, they “will not shake hands, greet or associate with them. They will not get married to them or visit them when they are sick, nor will they attend their funerals after they die.”
9. Extremist religious behaviors, such as middle-aged and young men having big beards, short-legged pants, women who mask their faces or wear " jilbābs, are closely related to each other. People who do such things often form groups and have activities with each other.
10. People who drink and smoke that suddenly quit drinking and smoking, and do not interact with friends and relatives, sometimes even their parents, if they continue to drink and smoke.
11. Secretly subsidizing and helping the relatives of criminals we sentenced to have violated national security.
12. Irrationally volunteering to marry, or encouraging others to marry, the wife of a person who was killed or sentenced to death.
13. Intentionally expand the category of “halal” to promote non-smoking and alcohol prohibitions on the grounds of religion; preventing the circulation of normal commodities on the grounds of them being"non-halal.” ^9f3761
14. On the grounds of purifying religion, resisting modernist or traditional ethnic clothing, music, dance and poetry.
15. Resisting normal cultural and sports activities such as meshrep, football, basketball, volleyball, reading, and singing competitions.
16. On the grounds of religion, refusing to accept government, refusing to receive government subsidies, assistance, refusing to apply for, receive, use or even destroying a government-issued ID card, marriage certificates and other documents by burning, damaging, or discarding them.
17. On the grounds of religion, forbidding women from going out of the home and participate in public activities or work; forcing them to wear “jilbāb”-style clothes.
18. Preventing children from learning Chinese, defaming “bilingual” education, damaging textbooks and the great portraits and so on.
19. Voluntarily dropping out of school in order to study religion.
20. Forcing restaurants and other food and beverage establishments to close during Ramadan, and having service personnel wear “jilbāb”-style clothing.
21. Having real estate, land, livestock that does not reflect the means of production of the individual. Signs that the family is leaving their place of origin or place of residence, or they have suddenly moved out of their place of household registration for no reason.
22. Storing a large amount of food in one’s residence, or going out and buying a large amount of food to take back to the residence, and other signs of related abnormal activity.
23. Setting up houses or courtyards with underground caves, underpasses, secret rooms, hidden cases or complex structures. Or setting up houses in remote locations.
24. Many people gathering for activities and lacking normal interactions with the outside world. The activities were suspicious. There are beds and carpets for multiple people in the house who are of similar age as registered residents.
25. Participating in religious activities across counties, townships, towns, and village boundaries without justifiable reasons.
26. Suddenly no longer participating in normal social interactions, behaving clandestinely, connecting with people who exhibit abnormal behavior, and participate in religious extreme activities that are generally illegal
27. Communication with neighbors is abnormal, and strangers and children often come and go.
28. Children in families with a strong religious atmosphere suddenly go missing.
29. Wearing a “star and moon” patterned cultural shirt, wearing the “star and moon” on rings, necklaces, using “star and moon” and related patterns on wallets, pendants, mobile phone cases, on or in cars, motorcycles and other motor vehicles. Or posting and hanging “star and moon” flags or the “East Turkistan” logo and any other accessories which express these sentiments.
30. In the name of cultural exchange, but for the purpose of spreading extremist thoughts, regularly teaching Turkish, Urdu, or Arabic.
31. Congregating to pray in indoor and outdoor public places outside the mosque while someone leads the prayer.
32. Possessing printing, copying, burning (CDs), binding and other equipment for printing illegal propaganda materials which does not match the identity and occupation of the resident who possesses them.
33. Purchase or storage of dumbbells, barbells, boxing gloves, grips, arms, and other equipment, as well as maps, compasses, telescopes, ropes, tents, and other items without proper reasons.
34. Purchase large quantities of fireworks and firecrackers, sulfur, phosphorus, ether, potassium permanganate, nitrate and other explosive and poisonous chemicals, choppers, daggers, spears, crossbows, crossbows and other controlled articles or utensils which are not used in production orbusiness purposes.
35. Purchasing production materials such as pesticides, steel pipes, plugs, etc., and daily necessities such as matches, gasoline, timers, remote controls in large quantities and without justification.

Religious extremism activities that are suspected of violating laws and regulations in the areas of state administration, public security, and religious management, and cause certain harm to social management and the normal social order. They must be investigated and dealt with in a timely manner.

36. At extremist wedding ceremonies attendees are forbidden to drink, smoke, dance, and sing. During funerals, men are not allowed to wear white belts, women cannot wear white headscarves or black headscarves; verses recited at the time of burial are changed to tablighs or teachings that focus on “strengthening Islamic beliefs.” Crying is not allowed. Wailing is not allowed.
37. On the grounds of following halal and haram guidelines, using the “five types of Haram” to separate Muslims from non-Muslims and destroy national unity and create an extremist religious atmosphere.
38. Using telecommunications radio stations or Internet social chat groups (QQ, WeChat, voice messaging, chat rooms, etc.) to carry out illegal teaching, missionary, and illegal “tabligh” (teaching) activities.
39. Using social media software such as mobile phone text messages and WeChat to exchange learning, read illegal religious propaganda materials, and recommend illegal propaganda materials and documents.
40. Possessing illegal political religious books, audio-visual products, and computers or mobile storage media on one’s person or found in one’s residence which contain illegal political or religious e-books, audio and video files.
41. Using satellite receivers, networks, radios and other equipment to illegally listen to, watch, or distribute overseas religious radio and television programs.
42. For the purpose of strengthening religious beliefs, copying, distributing, and disseminating illegal propaganda materials such as “A Letter from Saudi Arabia”.
43. Resisting government propaganda and education, smashing TV sets, damaging television cable receivers and so on. Refusing to watch normal movies and TV networks. Attacking development and management measures such as “Aid Xinjiang,” “West-East Gas Transmission,” and the household registration system.
44. Forcing or secretly forcing non-religious people to pray and fast.
45. Forcing, encouraging, or coercing minors and students at school to pray, study religion, and fast. ^feb9c6
46. Encouraging or forcing children or others to participate in illegal learning activities.
47. For the purpose of studying religion, forcing children to drop out of school and not accepting state compulsory education.
48. Without approval, gathering in public places other than mosques and other places of religious activity to engage in religious activities, disturbing the order of public places, not listening to advice against such activities, and resisting state officials who are performing their duties according to law.
49. Reinstating or restoring the privileges of feudal religion which disguise oppressive and exploitation systems, such as implementing the succession of the " masters and apprentice"(in religious education),forbidding certain forms of speech, sending out imams, forcibly collecting alms (zakat).
50. Instigating, organizing, and participating in unorganized (or indirect) hajj.
51. Persons who are appointed without the consent of the patriotic religious organization, or who are not qualified to teach religion, organizing or presiding over religious activities and holding religious ceremonies.
52. Inviting other local teaching personnel to carry out religious activities without approval.
53. Unauthorized acceptance of religious donations from illegal religious organizations, foreign religious organizations, or individuals without approval.
54. Participating in various trainings and meetings of illegal domestic religious organizations, foreign organizations or individuals, or contacting others concerning religious activities without approval.
55. Unauthorized construction, reconstruction, expansion of religious activity venues or construction of other buildings for hidden religious activities without registration and approval.
56. Constructing large-scale open-air religious edifices outside religious venues without approval.
57. Self-proclaimed preachers who cultivate followers at will; unauthorized appointment of religious teachers; unauthorized acceptance of religious appointment by religious organizations in or outside of the country.
58. Deliberately provoke disputes by creating contradictions and confusion between different religions, different sects or within the same sects. If one is suspected of violating relevant state laws and causing or possibly causing certain practical harm, it is necessary to promptly investigate and punish in a timely manner.
59. Getting married without obtaining a marriage certificate in religious ceremonies such as “nika,” going through the divorce procedures by reading a “tarak” divorce; remarrying on the grounds of religion and interfering with family planning policies.
60. Publicly chasing, insulting, and intimidating people dressed in modern fashion style.
61. On the grounds of maintaining religious doctrine, beating, injuring people who drink, damaging tobacco and alcohol stores for no reason, and destroying dance halls and entertainment facilities.
62. Destroying the graves of the “three old peoples.”
63. Destroying public facilities, damage various propaganda boards, stealing or damaging the national flag in the mosque, hanging and posting “jihad” flags, signs, and so on.
64. Speculating about the use of dopas, women’s veiling and other sensitive issues involving ethnic religion, to incite gangs, the illegal organization of rallies, marches, demonstrations, petitions and other activities. ^f77c61
65. Establish a “religious court” to use religious law to forcibly adjudicate disputes, determine economic punishment or corporal punishment of others on actual travel, which hinders national justice.
66. Making, selling, buying, transporting, and distributing books, CDs or multimedia cards with extremist religious content or that feature “jilbab” clothing.
67. Selling mobile phones, computers and other electronic products that contain texts, pictures, audio or video files that promote extremist ideas. Or using a data transfer device to add such files on others phones.
68. Frequently using “over the wall” VPN software to log onto religious extremist websites abroad, browsing, downloading, and distributing e-books or audio-visual files of religious extremist ideas.
69. Uploading and reprinting texts, pictures, audio and video materials that promote religious extremism ideas in forums, social media groups or personal blogs, Weibo, websites, and network servers on the Internet.
70. Using social media software such as the mobile phone app WeChat and flash drives, MP3, MP4, multimedia cards, mobile hard disk, so on to spread texts, pictures, audio and video materials that promote religious extreme ideas.
71. Actively organizing and participating in illegal study of religion, and organizing the viewing of audio and video materials related to “hijirat”^[hijrah] and “Jihad”, or promoting religious extremist ideas in public.
72. Use the Internet, teach poison-making and detonation techniques to organize and plan violent terrorist activities such as “jihad” and “hijirat “, or use the Internet and mobile phone applications to spread the website addresses, audio and video links of terrorist-related explosives sites.
73. Use social media software such as mobile phone text messages and WeChat to teach the technology of making poisons and explosives.
74. Organizing and planning violent terrorist activities such as “jihad” and " hijirat”. ^6d6931
75. Organize and participate in " hijirat " or other religious extremist groups to plan and implement violent terrorist activities.