Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government should take a stand on China against the persecution of Uighur Muslims, Chief of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)`s Advisory Board, Din Syamsuddin, said.

The oppression or persecution of Uighur Muslims, who live in China`s northwestern province of Xinjiang, is a crime against humanity, gross violation of human rights, and concrete violation of international law, he stated here on Tuesday.

"If the Indonesian government does not take any stand on the pretext of the issue being China`s internal affairs, how weak will they be," he noted.

If the nation remains silent, how weak their iman (faith) will be, he added.

"Do not think we are silent because of investment. Do not think because we are mute out of fear," he remarked.

The preamble of the 1945 Constitution gives a mandate to the government to contribute to the creation of global peace and order based on freedom, eternal peace, and social justice, he revealed.

Earlier, Syamsuddin strongly condemned China`s persecution of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province.

As reported by the international media, Uighur Muslims have been tortured, isolated, and banned from practicing their religious teachings, he pointed out in a press statement released on Monday.

The International Covenant on Social and Political Rights has assured religious freedom for all human beings, meaning that Uighur Muslims, who make up the majority group in Xinjiang province, have the rights to practice their religious teachings.

Syamsuddin, who is also the President of Asian Conference on Religions for Peace (ACRP), called for a halt to the oppression.

He also urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the international community to save the Uighur Muslims and take a firm stand against the Chinese regime to give them civil rights.

Reporting by Erafzon Saptiyulda AS, Suharto
Editing by Andi Abdussalam

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Yosep Hariyadi
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