Uyghur Mother Sentenced to 17 Years for Teaching Islam to Her Kids

In yet another alarming case of religious repression in China’s Xinjiang region, a 49-year-old Muslim woman, Seylihan Rozi, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for teaching Quranic verses to her sons and a neighbor. 

This sentence, handed down in Kashgar’s Konasheher County, highlights the growing crackdown on Uyghur Muslims practicing their faith. 

Authorities accused Rozi of engaging in “illegal underground religious activities” by teaching the verses used in daily prayers. According to a police officer from Saybagh village, where the case was processed, her sons—Sattar Kadir and Yusuf Ahmed Kadir—were also imprisoned for 10 and 7 years respectively, on charges of receiving “illegal religious education.” 

Her neighbor, Yakup Hidayet, who attended just three days of lessons in 2006, was sentenced to nine years. 

This case is part of China’s broader strategy to suppress the religious practices of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, often under the guise of counterterrorism. A staff member from the Bulaqsu Township Party Committee confirmed Rozi’s sentence, echoing the government’s stance on labeling such religious teachings as unlawful. 

The Xinjiang Police Files, a trove of leaked documents from the region, corroborate the sentences given to Rozi’s sons and reveal similar cases. 

These files, first exposed by the Washington-based Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, document the plight of over 830,000 individuals, many of whom have been punished for practicing basic religious activities like praying, teaching Quranic principles, visiting mosques or growing beards. 

The Muslim world and human rights organizations have condemned Rozi’s sentencing, calling it a blatant violation of religious freedom. A U.S.-based Muslim civil rights group issued a strong statement: 

“We condemn this shocking arrest and sentencing for a woman who was merely exercising basic religious rights that should be available to anyone of any faith worldwide.” 

This incident mirrors other cases where Uyghur Muslims were penalized for practicing their religion. For instance, another Uyghur woman was recently re-sentenced to 14 years for teaching Quranic lessons to teenagers. 

Social media platforms have also seen an outpouring of condemnation. A prominent activist wrote, “The crimes here are committed by the authorities, not the people worshipping. Will anyone ever investigate and prosecute Xi Jinping’s atrocity crimes?” 

The Chinese government has consistently denied allegations of human rights abuses, framing its actions in Xinjiang as necessary to ensure national security and social stability. Officials describe detention centers as “vocational training centers” and justify strict religious regulations as measures to curb extremism. 

However, testimonies from former detainees and reports from Uyghur rights organizations paint a grim picture of forced assimilation, cultural erasure, and mass detentions, with an estimated 1.8 million Uyghurs subjected to internment since 2017. 

The Chinese government’s actions have led to widespread fear among Muslims in the region. Reports indicate that even routine religious activities, such as attending mosques or fasting during Ramadan, are under surveillance and often criminalized. This has forced many Muslims to practice their faith in secrecy, risking severe punishments. 

Critics argue that these actions go beyond counterterrorism and reflect a systematic attempt to suppress the Uyghur identity and faith. The international community has been slow to act, despite growing evidence of human rights abuses. 

Advocacy groups are urging the United Nations and Muslim-majority nations to hold China accountable for its actions.