The 2025 Annual Report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has highlighted that religious freedom conditions in China remain among the worst globally, with a focus on the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) repressive measures against the Uyghur Muslim population in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

Sinicization Policy and Uyghur Repression

The Report emphasizes that religious freedom conditions in China are among the worst globally. In 2024, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping enforced policies like the "sinicization of religion," which require religious groups' loyalty to the CCP. In Xinjiang, these policies severely restricted religious practices.

Persecution of Uyghur Muslims

The report highlights the persecution of Uyghur Muslims under these policies. Authorities imprisoned many Uyghurs for participating in religious activities, including making charitable contributions or giving religious education. The report specifically mentions the death of 96-year-old Uyghur Imam Abidin Damollam in prison while serving a nine-year sentence for "promoting religious extremism."

Transnational Repression

China continued its efforts to suppress Uyghur and Tibetan diaspora communities abroad. The Chinese government used threats, blackmail, and surveillance against family members still in China to silence criticism from those living abroad.

International Response

International human rights bodies, such as the United Nations (UN), urged China to respect religious freedoms. However, despite these calls, there has been no significant progress in addressing human rights violations, especially in Xinjiang.

For the full report, visit: 2025 USCIRF Annual Report. For more information on USCIRF’s annual reports, visit: USCIRF Annual Reports.

This report sheds light on the ongoing human rights violations Uyghur Muslims face and China’s continued suppression of religious freedom.

28 March 2025