Chinese officials have banned the observance of Ramadan

According to reports on 5 September 2008, Chinese officials have banned the observance of Ramadan and restricted the distribution of religious materials and prayers in an effort to crack down on the Uyghur Muslim population in the northwest of the country. Officials justified their actions by citing attacks on Chinese police officers during August, while the Olympic Games were underway. In addition, security has been increased in the region. Increased security and roaming patrols were reported in Shaya County in Xinjiang in addition to warnings posted on the Xinhe County Web site. Restrictions by the government include a prohibition on any Islam-related audio-visual tapes, loud speaker announcements and religious drum rituals.