Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on May 26, 2017, that Xinjiang-Uyghur Province authorities are implementing a set of “stability maintenance” measures during Ramadan, but sources say restaurants have been ordered to stay open throughout the Islamic holy month as part of the directive.  According to a recently issued notice entitled “2017 Work Conclusion on the Stability Maintenance of Xinjiang during the Ramadan Period,” the Industrial and Commercial Bureau of Aksu (in Chinese, Akesu) prefecture’s Bay (Baicheng) county has adopted several measures to “ensure social peace and harmony” during the holy month observed from May 26 to June 24 this year. The bureau, which regulates business and alcohol licenses for restaurants, issued a notice after a series of meetings held by the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Communist Party Committee to “strengthen leadership,” “control,” and “inspection” in the county, and “widen the scope of propaganda [to] focus on prevention.”The bureau plans to “strictly enforce leading cadres on duty, [have] cadres stand on 24-hour uninterrupted guard, ensure the rotation of guards, check the bags, [and] question and register all visitors.” The notice said temporary evening “security checkpoints” will be set up to “ensure that all vehicles, individuals, and suspicious things are inspected and recorded.” Separately, students in Hotan (Hetian) prefecture’s Qaraqash (Moyu) county will be gathered on Fridays to “collectively study, watch red [communist propaganda] films, and conduct sports activities” in a way to “enrich their social life during the summer vacation.”

A Han Chinese official with the Zawa township government in Qaraqash told RFA that his office had been ordered by county officials to keep restaurants “open as usual … especially during the Ramadan period. If anybody fails to comply with this order, they will be dealt with, and while I’m not sure of the specific punishment, [the restaurants] should be open no matter what.” He added "This order came from the county’s Political Law Committee a couple of days ago. Our leaders stressed the importance of this during a meeting we attended on this issue as well.” He also said that teachers, public servants and employees in the service sector are “not allowed to fast” during Ramadan. “It is strictly prohibited and if they are found fasting during this period, they will be dealt with.” Uyghurs working at restaurants around the region confirmed to RFA that their businesses had been ordered to remain open during Ramadan. “Yes, we were ordered to keep our restaurants open,” said a Uyghur staff member at a restaurant in Kashgar (Kashi) prefecture’s Kashgar city. The Uyghur owner of a restaurant chain, who also spoke anonymously, said his business will stay open during Ramadan “for 12 hours every day.”

An ethnic Hui Muslim restaurant owner in Ningxia Autonomous Region’s capital Yinchuan said he would be closing his business for Ramadan, much like he does every year. He said “I have run this restaurant for 30 years and I have never received an order to keep it open during Ramadan. I will close my restaurant during Ramadan, though some restaurants will serve food before dawn and after sunset for Ramadan observers.”