Mosques in riot-hit Chinese city open for prayer
source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31842222/ns/world_news-asiapacific/
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Several mosques in riot-hit Uruumqi opened for Friday prayers, despite notices posted earlier saying they would be closed in the wake of ethnic violence that left 156 dead.
It was not immediately clear if there was a change of policy or if the mosques were opened because crowds gathered outside them. The Friday afternoon prayers are a focal point of the week for the minority Muslim Uighurs.
At the White mosque, one of the most popular places to worship in the large Uighur neighborhood of Er Dao Qiao, about 100 men argued with guards, demanding that they be allowed in for prayers.
A Uighur policeman guarding the mosque, who would not give his name, said: "We decided to open the mosque because so many people had gathered. We did not want an incident."
Kaishar, a 23-year-old car salesman, said his heart ached when he first saw the gates to the mosque.
"There was no reason to shut the gate. They said it was for our safety but actually there is no need, nothing will happen here. On a day of prayer things are not supposed to be messed with," said Kaishar, with a red prayer mat folded under his arm.
It was not known if all the mosques across the city of 2.3 million people were opened.
It was not immediately clear if there was a change of policy or if the mosques were opened because crowds gathered outside them. The Friday afternoon prayers are a focal point of the week for the minority Muslim Uighurs.
At the White mosque, one of the most popular places to worship in the large Uighur neighborhood of Er Dao Qiao, about 100 men argued with guards, demanding that they be allowed in for prayers.
A Uighur policeman guarding the mosque, who would not give his name, said: "We decided to open the mosque because so many people had gathered. We did not want an incident."
Kaishar, a 23-year-old car salesman, said his heart ached when he first saw the gates to the mosque.
"There was no reason to shut the gate. They said it was for our safety but actually there is no need, nothing will happen here. On a day of prayer things are not supposed to be messed with," said Kaishar, with a red prayer mat folded under his arm.
It was not known if all the mosques across the city of 2.3 million people were opened.
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