Question: What efforts has Xinjiang madeto protectthe cultures and religions of ethnic minority groups? What are the results? Spokesperson: For a period of time, some people in a few Western countries have been peddling allegations accusing Xinjiang of "cultural genocide" and "restrictions of freedom of religion" against ethnic minorities. These allegations are outright rumours and slander. The truth is that all ethnic groups in Xinjiang enjoy the right to extensive freedom of culture and religious belief in accordance with the law. Xinjiang attaches great importance to preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultures and customs of all ethnic groups. Regional regulations have been rolled out for the protection of cultural heritage. Representative intangible cultural heritages of all ethnic groups have been included in the national or Xinjiang regional listsof intangible cultural heritage. Folk cultural events are widely celebrated, including the Han Lantern Festival, the Uygur Meshrep, the Kazak Aytes, the Kirgiz Kobuz Ballad Singing Fair, the Mongolian Nadam Fair, and the Hui people’s Hua’er Folk Song Festival. Ethnic minority groups are entitled to statutory holidays for the celebration of their traditional festivals. Local sports events such as wrestling and horse racing are held to promote ethnic sports. The regional government has also implemented a host of measures to guarantee special food supply that meets the needs of Muslims. Xinjiang fully respects and protects the rights of ethnic minorities to use their own spoken and written languages. Local governments at all levels in Xinjiang use both the national common language and the languages of the ethnic groups under their administration. Primary and secondary schools offer courses in Uyghur, Kazakh and other languages of ethnic minorities. Out of 100 newspapers and 200 periodicals published in Xinjiang, 52 newspapers and 120 periodicals are in the languages of ethnic minority groups. Freedom of religious belief of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are also fully respected and protected. Religious groups and believers are free to carry out all lawful religious activities at religious sites or home, such as conducting worship, fasting and observing religious festivals. This is protected by law, andno organization or individual shall interfere. In Xinjiang, there is on average one mosque for every 530 Muslims, higher than the ratios in many Western and Muslim countries. It is through these concrete efforts thatXinjiangnow enjoys religious harmony and cultural prosperity.
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