LETTERS: Muslim leaders need to act on the claim from several human rights organisations involving about 40 Muslims in the United States who launched a campaign to boycott the Hilton Worldwide hotel chain on its plans to build a hotel on the site of a former Uyghur-owned mosque, demolished by Chinese authorities in Xinjiang province.
We urge that firm action be taken by Islamic leaders to prevent this from happening. This is not just an issue of mosques in Xinjiang but it touches on the sanctity and dignity of Islam and Muslims around the world.
The US-Islamic Relations Committee's move to launch a boycott campaign on the Hilton hotel chain, for us, is justified and should be supported, after they consulted with the hotel parent company but it still wants to continue its plans to build a hotel on the site of the Uyghur-owned mosque.
The Chinese government and the Hilton hotel chain need to get a strong message that Muslims will not remain silent when mosques and mosque sites are encroached and desecrated.
Pressure must be exerted and strong protests must be voiced against China and Hilton. The US Congressional Commission itself expressed protest against Hilton's plans.
We emphasise that the question of enmity between America and China is a separate issue and it is an issue between the two countries.
However, what we want to emphasise is, China's continued use of its power to oppress the Uyghur ethnic group and threaten the status of the mosque in Xinjiang, cannot be compromised.
Muslim leaders need to express their deep concern over the Chinese government's campaign of destroying the sanctity of the Uyghur's religious sites. What is now prevailing is a religious and cultural genocide launched by the Chinese government against the Uyghur Muslims.
We reiterate our deep regret that the leaders of Islamic countries are still swayed by China's denial. The reason for wanting to maintain trade relations with China is the reason that betrays the obligation to defend Islam and Muslims who are oppressed in China.
About 16,000 mosques in 900 locations in Xinjiang had been partially or completely demolished between 2017 and 2020, according to a study by the Australian Institute of Strategic Policy. Is this not a concern for Muslim leaders?
Why is the Muslim world silent and not urging China to respond to the study by allowing an international independent Islamic body to investigate the allegations.
The destruction of mosque towers can be seen on satellite images accumulated over the past few years. We urge the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to state its position on this issue.
Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
President of MAPIM, Coordinator, Save the Mosque Campaign in Xinjiang
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times