Top Iranian cleric condemns China over unrest
Sunday, 07.12.2009, 11:12pm (GMT+5)
A top Iranian cleric on Sunday condemned China for "horribly" suppressing Muslim Uighurs in deadly unrest between the Uighurs and Han Chinese that has killed more than 180 people.
"It is true that the Chinese government and its people have close economic and political ties with us and other Islamic countries, but this is no reason for them to horribly suppress our Muslim brothers and sisters," said Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi in a statement to a news agency.
"We strongly condemn this suppression and urge all Muslims of the world to demand in one voice that the Chinese government end this situation and punish the criminals."
Shirazi also took a dig at Iranian officials for remaining "silent" over the unrest in the Chinese province of Xinjiang.
"People expect that the Islamic republic?s officials will not remain silent and take an appropriate step and not leave our Muslim brothers and sisters alone," he added.
Iranian officials have yet to issue an official reaction on the unrest in Xinjiang, whose eight million Uighurs have long complained about repressive Chinese rule, grievances which the government says are baseless.
Uighurs reportedly attacked Han Chinese during the July 5 unrest and destroyed their shops but exiled Uighur leaders said the protests were peaceful until security forces over-reacted with deadly force.
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