BEIJING, June 2 (Xinhua) -- A government white paper on Thursday defended China's efforts in fighting religious extremism, saying it is a just act to safeguard the fundamental interests of the country and the people.
Religious extremists, in the name of religion, spread radical and extremist views, and take extremist means to try to establish a theocracy. Religious extremism is by nature "anti-human, anti-society, anti-civilization and anti-religion," read the white paper titled "Freedom of Religious Belief in Xinjiang."
Religious extremism betrays and distorts religious doctrines, deludes and deceives the public, particularly young people, with their fallacies, and changes some people into extremists and terrorists completely under its control, according to the document issued by the State Council Information Office.
Affected by international religious extremism, religious extremism has grown and spread in Xinjiang in recent years.
Facts show that religious extremism has become a real danger that undermines national unity and ethnic solidarity, sabotages religious and social harmony, impairs social stability and peace in Xinjiang, and endangers the life and property of people of all ethnic groups, read the white paper.
Read the full story at Xinhua