After decades of persecution of the ethnic group of Xinjiang, the Uyghurs, by China, the countryhas nowmoved on to a newtarget -the ethnic Kazakhs, living on the border with Kazakhstan.
The Chinese government had already denied the Uyghursthe basic right topractice theirown religion, the country is now targetting theKazakhson the grounds of religion with the objective of forcing them to stop following their Islamic customs.
Reports state that since the last one year the Kazakh community in Xinjiang is experiencing several restrictions from the Chinese security agencies. These restrictions are especially concerning the religious customs of the community. Reports have also indicated that those Chinese authorities have confiscated over a thousand Kazakh families Korans, prayer mats, and other religious articles.
Also, the presence of security forces has increased in the area.