Radical Islam Stirs in China's Remote West

[Coventina]

Source: Washington Post

KASHGAR, China (Reuters) - In a backstreet of the old Silk Road city of Kashgar, the Chinese government has been spray-painting signs on dusty mud brick walls to warn against what it says is a new enemy -- the Islamic Liberation Party.

Better known as Hizb ut-Tahrir, the group says its goal is to establish a pan-national Muslim state, or Caliphate.

China says Hizb ut-Tahrir are terrorists, and claim they operate in the far western region of Xinjiang, home to some 8 million Muslim, Turkic-speaking Uighurs, many of whom chafe under Chinese rule.

But the group, and some observers, say they do not espouse violence, and they accuse China of playing up the threat as an excuse to further crack down in restive Xinjiang, especially ahead of this summer's Beijing Olympics.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/06/AR2008070601806.html

[Hugabear]

1. I take offense at the title of that article

Seems like the title of the article is falling prey to Chinese propaganda. What exactly makes them "radical"? Because China says so?

[Ganja Ninja]

2. Exactly.

"Radical Islam" Is there any other kind? :shrug:

[cstanleytech]

3. Yeah the article is kinda lacking in details

about what if anything the group has done to really be concerned about, sure its an islamic movement but they are not "all" fanatics who want to impose their religion on others, long as they remain peaceful and dont try anything maybe china should take a wait and see approach.

[aspergris]

4. Maybe because of their professed goal

"the pan-national islamic state"

The article says the GROUP says that is their goal NOT the chinese govt. says.

If a religious organization says their goal is to create a pan-national state based on religious rule, many would view that as radical.

Otoh, China is NOT kind to religions it deems a threat to the state (just ask falun gong).