China riots: Mosques shut down in Urumqi

Urumqi, Jul 10: Urumqi's mosques have been ordered to stay closed for Friday prayers in wake of ethnic violence outside mosque, a Chinese official said.

An official at the Yang Hang mosque in downtown Urumqi said, "For the sake of public safety all of the mosques have told people that there will be no Friday prayers and that people should stay at home today and pray."

One middle aged Uighur woman said the mosque should stay open, "It's not necessary to close it because everyone who enters the mosque is a Muslim. It will be safe," she said. "We just don't have any power," she added

The violence in Urumqi began Sunday, Jul 5 when Uighurs clashed with police while protesting deaths of Uighur factory workers in a brawl in another part of the country. Riot police tried to restore order, and officials said 156 people were killed and more than 1,100 were injured.

OneIndia News