Muslim women lead protests in restive west China.
…the incident was one of many examples of how Muslim women have been taking bold leadership roles following the deadliest communal violence in decades in the Xinjiang region. As the communist government launches a sweeping security crackdown, the women have faced down troops, led protests and risked arrest by speaking out against police tactics they believe are excessive.
It seems many of the men have been rounded up and jailed. Whole neighborhoods have been cleared of adult men.
And from the same article, a description of Uighur religious practice, women’s roles in society and the economy, mixed with a description of women’s clothing norms:
Most Muslim Uighurs practice a moderate form of Sunni Islam or follow the mystical Sufism tradition. The women often work and lead an active social life outside the home. Many wear brightly colored head scarves but the custom is not strongly enforced. Young Uighur women often wear jeans, formfitting tops and dresses.
In the journalistic tradition of ’showing’ rather than labeling, I think the purpose of this paragraph is to make a long-winded expression that Uighur women are moderate, liberated and deserving of sympathy (the writers know they are writing for a Western audience that likely fears conservative Islam).
