China Launches Anti-Halal Campaign in Xinjiang

SHANGHAI – In a move that has drawn significant international criticism, the Chinese government has launched an aggressive anti-halal campaign in Xinjiang, targeting the predominantly Muslim Uighur population. The campaign aims to curb the influence of Islam in secular life and combat what Beijing describes as “extremism” and “separatism.”

A Decisive Battle Against ‘Pan-Halalization’

The Communist Party leaders of Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, recently led an oath-taking ceremony where cadres pledged to “fight a decisive battle against ‘pan-palatalization’” – a term used by officials to describe the perceived overreach of halal practices into non-religious areas of life. According to a notice on the city’s official WeChat account, the campaign demands that everyday halal products, such as food and toothpaste, adhere strictly to Islamic law. The party argues that this trend undermines secular values and fuels extremism.

Government Control and Surveillance

Chinese authorities have defended the campaign, claiming it is a necessary step to maintain social stability and integrate the region more closely with the rest of the country. They assert that the rise of halal products beyond traditional religious boundaries promotes religious practices that could potentially lead to separatist sentiments.

However, this justification has done little to quell the concerns of international observers. Reports suggest that as many as 13 million Muslims in Xinjiang are facing increasing repression, with over a million Uighurs detained in what China describes as “vocational training centers” but what many others call internment camps​ (About Islam). These centers are reportedly part of a broader strategy to enforce assimilation and eradicate any form of Islamic extremism.

As part of the anti-halal initiative, government employees are instructed to avoid dietary restrictions based on religious beliefs. Canteens in workplaces are being modified to offer a variety of foods, disregarding religious dietary laws. This policy extends to all public sector workers, who are also required to adhere to Marxist-Leninist principles and speak standard Mandarin in public.

Ilshat Osman, Urumqi’s head prosecutor and an ethnic Uighur, published an essay titled “Friend, you do not need to find a halal restaurant specially for me,” highlighting the government’s push for greater integration and the abandonment of religious dietary practices.

The anti-halal campaign has sparked a wave of criticism from human rights organizations and foreign governments. Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups have condemned China’s actions as part of a systematic campaign of human rights abuses against the Turkic Muslim population in Xinjiang. These measures are seen as an attempt to secularize Muslims and eliminate religious identity in favor of state-imposed ideologies.

The crackdown on halal products in Xinjiang is part of a wider pattern of religious suppression under the Chinese Communist Party. Recent regulations have intensified surveillance and control over religious practices across China, not just in Muslim-majority regions but also affecting Christian, Buddhist, and other religious communities. The overarching goal appears to be the imposition of a uniform national identity that aligns with the party’s secular and socialist ideals.

China’s anti-halal campaign in Xinjiang reflects a broader strategy of enforcing state control over religious practices, aiming to curb what it views as extremist influences. While the government claims these measures are essential for social stability and national unity, they have led to widespread international condemnation and raised serious concerns about human rights violations. As the world watches, the situation in Xinjiang remains a critical point of contention between China and the global community.