Mosques told to suspend prayers after China unrest

Mosques in riot-hit Urumqi were ordered to stay closed for Friday prayers in the wake of ethnic violence that has killed at least 156 people, an official 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," said the official at the Yang Hang mosque in downtown Urumqi (pronounced uh-ROOM-chee). She said she was a government worker but refused to give her name.

"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, then was pulled away by her husband.

"Of course, the mosque should be closed. Just look at all the damage that has been done," the Han Chinese woman said in a loud voice. "This is a patriotic move for the sake of the well-being of all the ethnic groups," she said before stomping away without giving her name. The other two quietly walked away as well.

The violence in Urumqi began Sunday when Uighurs clashed with police while protesting deaths of Uighur factory workers in a brawl in another part of the country. The crowd then scattered throughout Urumqi, attacking Han Chinese, burning cars and smashing windows. Riot police tried to restore order, and officials said 156 people were killed and more than 1,100 were injured.

"Our religion is quite flexible, so it's possible to cancel for the benefit of everyone," Jin said.

The head of the association, Chen Guangyuan, in an excerpt from a speech posted to the association's Web site Friday said the violence was caused by "evil people" intend on causing ethnic splits.

Restrictions on their religion already rankle among Uighurs, a Turkic-speaking people who have complained about the influx of Han Chinese, who make up more than 90 percent of China's population, in the remote western region.

At the Liudaowan mosque in Urumqi, the imam, or priest, Memeti Imam Damala, said the mosque received a notice Thursday night saying not to hold prayers.

An official with the city's Foreign Affairs office, who gave his name as Keidser, said "all foreign guests in Kashgar had to suspend their travels, group activities and especially interviews and leave Kashgar."

A group of about 10 journalists were taken by government officials to the airport. They were later told they may be allowed to stay but had not been allowed to leave the airport.