In China, the treatment of different Muslim minority groups seems to vary significantly, with the Hui community experiencing acceptance and integration, while the Uyghurs face systematic oppression and cultural genocide. This stark contrast highlights the complexities surrounding religious identity and state control.

The Hui community, one of the 56 officially recognized ethnic nationalities in China, enjoys friendly relations with the majority Han Chinese population. Frauke Drewes, a researcher of Islam in China, noted that the Hui are closely aligned with the Han majority, even more so than other co-religionists of different nationalities. Their faith has not led to exclusion or discrimination, showcasing a different narrative within the Muslim minority experience.

On the other hand, Amnesty International has raised serious concerns over the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China's far-western Xinjiang Autonomous Region. The Chinese government has established vocational training centers that are internationally regarded as internment camps. These facilities aim to erase religious identity by providing professional training alongside Chinese language and communist ideology. This has been criticized as an attempt to assimilate and control the Uyghur minority, resulting in allegations of systematic humiliation, punishment, and torture.

Despite these efforts, human rights organizations and sinologists argue that the oppression faced by the Uyghurs continues, albeit now under the guise of sophisticated surveillance systems replacing physical roadblocks. The aim, they assert, remains the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the Han Chinese majority and control over all aspects of their lives.

According to the latest census, Xinjiang is home to approximately 11.6 million Uyghurs alongside nearly 11 million Han Chinese. Many Uyghurs have sought job opportunities in China's metropolitan areas, predominantly in Muslim-owned restaurants. This migration highlights the economic disparities and limited opportunities faced by Uyghurs in their home province.

These contrasting experiences shed light on the complexities of religious identity and state control in China. While the Hui community has found acceptance and integration, the Uyghurs continue to face severe oppression and cultural manipulation. The treatment of Muslim minorities remains a contentious issue, attracting international attention and scrutiny.

This article is part of the "Decoding China" series by Deutsche Welle (DW), which critically examines Chinese perspectives on international issues from a German and European standpoint.