The Id Kah mosque in China's ancient oasis city of Kashgar has been welcoming the faithful for over 500 years, but not this week following deadly unrest in the Xinjiang region.

Mosques in Kashgar and in the regional capital Urumqi were closed after ethnic violence in Urumqi between China's predominant Han ethnic group and Uighurs, a Muslim minority that has called Xinjiang home for thousands of years.

"We don't know. We cannot talk about this," a Uighur man said tersely to a foreign reporter when asked whether the mosque would open for prayers.

Such tension is routine for China's roughly eight million Uighurs, who have complained of religious oppression since the officially atheist Chinese communists came to power 60 years ago and tightened control on Xinjiang.

Aspects of Islam that Muslims worldwide take for granted, such as the pilgrimage to Mecca, unrestrained religious sermons, and even owning a Koran are subject to control by Chinese authorities who fear extremism, many Uighurs said.

"They oppress us precisely because they know they cannot control us Muslims," said a Uighur businessman in his 30s who lives in Urumqi.

"They know we are not afraid to die," said the man, whose identity along with others is being withheld to prevent reprisals.

Uighurs said they were prevented from going on the Hajj, the trip to Mecca which all Muslims are obliged to make in their lifetime if they have the means.

China routinely denies passports to Uighurs, apparently fearing they could join extremist groups abroad, said the Urumqi businessman.

The lucky few who get passports often must give police hefty deposits of up to $4,000 - a massive sum for most Uighurs - to ensure that they return, several Uighurs said.

Even unapproved copies of the Koran are considered contraband, as many passages conflict with the views of the Chinese authorities, said the Urumqi businessman.

"Some things in the Koran are allowed, but anything that threatens China, you cannot do or say," he said, adding that many Uighurs secretly possess unapproved copies, risking possible arrest.

Several Uighurs said Imams who strayed from Chinese approved sermons have been banned from further preaching.

"You often hear the same thing over and over (in sermons)," said another Uighur man, referring to the frequent repetition of Chinese approved passages.

"So I often just ignore the sermon and I worship to myself, in here," he said, pointing to his heart.

Uighurs also say no one under 18 is allowed into mosques, a Chinese rule sometimes enforced by security who checks identifications.

Chinese authorities, however, say all citizen of China have religious freedom.

"Citizens' religious freedom has been fully protected and respected," state-run Xinhua news agency reported, quoting participants in a meeting of officially appointed Chinese religious leaders in the wake of this week's unrest.

But several Uighurs expressed delight when told that the Organisation of the Islamic Conference had criticised China's handling of the Xinjiang unrest.

"This is good, very good," said a Uighur restaurant owner in Urumqi, breaking into a broad smile.

"Most of us think that no one cares about us."

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