Xinjiang is home to more than half of China's Muslim population. (Photo : Google)
Some government officials in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have been supporting and even taking part in terrorist activities, said the head of the Xinjiang Regional Commission for Discipline Inspection, according to a report by the China Internet Information Center.
During the recent months, terrorists in the region as well as anti-terrorism operations have become more active. Some officials have failed to take a firm stance against terrorism, said Xu Hairong, Party chief of the Xinjiang Regional Commission for Discipline Inspection.
Xu's comments were found in a signed article published on Tuesday in the newspaper run by the Chinese Discipline Inspection and Supervision. In the article, he did not disclose any details regarding the involvement of the officials or whether or not they were charged.
Home to more than half of China's Muslim population, Xinjiang has become especially susceptible to religious extremism. This has resulted in an increased number of terrorist attacks.
Some of the terrorists found in Xinjiang have been reportedly trained abroad.
"Some officials in the village were removed from their posts for turning a blind eye to religious extremist activities," said Nurmemet Niaz, the new Party chief of Handaikejiran Village in Wushi County. "Some villagers who were under the influence of religious extremism later participated in terrorist activities. Such damage is hard to reverse."
Xu said that party officials will be disciplined if they are found inciting ethnic disturbances or involving themselves in separatist activities. He added that officials are prohibited from using religious activities to oppose the Party's policies.
