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Islamic leader condemns Xinjiang riots

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-07-08 01:10

Video by chinadaily.com.cn Yu Chenkang

The deadly violence in Urumqi stirred by separatist rioters that has killed 156 people violated the tenets of the Holy Quran that preaches peace and harmony, a religious leader said Tuesday at a press conference.

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Sporadic conflicts and protests continued as of Tuesday afternoon in the riot-hit capital city of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, where separatist troublemakers took vandalism spree on the streets, shed hacks randomly on passers-by and torched vehicles in blaze since Sunday night. 

"Uygurs are well known for their hospitality. Those rioters are not representatives of the Uygur people," said Abudurekefu Akhond, member of the standing committee of the China Islamic Association.

"The Islam creed advocates peace and harmony", he added. "Different ethnic groups should show respect to and learn from each other with mutual understanding."