Chinese authorities launched the 'Down to the Grassroots' campaign on February 15, 2014, aiming to deploy 200,000 party officials to Xinjiang over three years. Xinjiang, covering an area similar to Iran, has a population of about 10 million Uighurs, making up over 40% of the region. Zhang Chunxian, the Xinjiang party boss, described the campaign as a 'radical measure' for stability and ethnic harmony. The initiative includes efforts to teach the Uighur language and promote cultural integration. However, critics argue that it is a superficial attempt to gain loyalty amidst ongoing repression. Alim Seytoff of the World Uighur Congress stated that real change requires genuine autonomy for Uighurs. This campaign follows a violent incident on March 1, 2014, in Kunming, which was attributed to Xinjiang terrorists [eeeb2fac].
In the broader context of China's crackdown on religious and ethnic minorities, the Communist Party has intensified its efforts to control various groups, including Falun Gong practitioners, Uighurs, and Tibetan Buddhists. The regime's policies aim to suppress dissent and promote the Sinicization of religions, which has led to widespread human rights abuses. Reports indicate that the CCP has implemented initiatives such as a nationwide anti-Falun Gong signature campaign and monetary rewards for citizens who report practitioners. The ongoing persecution has mobilized millions of Chinese citizens to become grassroots human rights activists [35720741].
In addition to the repression faced by Uighurs, the Chinese government has also targeted Tibetan Buddhism, imposing restrictions on religious practices and appointing government-approved religious leaders. Tibetans expressing dissent face severe consequences, including imprisonment and torture. The international community continues to call for an end to these abuses and greater respect for human rights in Tibet [f20154d1].
The CCP's influence extends to Islam, where it has sought to 'Sinicize' the religion, affecting the Hui Muslim ethnic minority. Policies have led to the closure of mosques and restrictions on religious teaching. The Chinese government denies allegations of religious repression, claiming that religious activities are protected by law [ed142155].
In a recent development, Chinese Communist Party officials have instructed senior leaders of the Three-Self Church and the China Christian Councils to ensure strict implementation of rules on religions. This directive was issued during the 'China Christian Implementation of Strict Governance of Religion Exchange Meeting' in Xi'an, Shaanxi. The officials emphasized that preachers and sermons should be strictly controlled, and Christian leaders should study and teach 'Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era' [a956ae52].