The month of Ramadhan 2014

The month of Ramadhan has started. Muslims are fasting which means they have to abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk. They also have to abstain from being evil (don’t lie, don’t harm anyone, don’t do anything malicious) and promote spiritual activities that can bolster your Iman (or to bring you closer to the God) such as increasing the reading of the Quran or perform more supplementary prayers.

Because the nature of fasting is very personal (it’s between you and your God), it’s almost impossible for this ritual to be politicize … until I read this news today.

BEIJING , July 2 (UPI) --China has restricted the practice of fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in its western Xinjiang region
Several government agencies have banned their Muslim staff members from the fast accompanying Ramadan, a worldwide observance which began Saturday. An agency website noted its civil servants cannot "take part in fasting and other religious activities."

The website of Bozhou Radio and TV University in Shenzhen said party members, teachers and young people, a reference to students, were subject to the ban.

Bad China! Don’t they know that this is how most people are radicalized … when the government interferes and oppressed even in the most basic human rights ... the freedom to privately believe and worship god.