Muslims attend Friday prayer in Xinjiang

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Friday prayer, also known as Jumu'ah Day, is the most important prayer for Muslims. In Islamic tradition, Muslims go to mosques to offer their weekly congregational prayers on Friday. In Xinjiang it was the second Jumu'ah Day after the July 5th riots.

The prayer ceremony started on Friday afternoon as usual. Over two hundred people took part in the ceremony at this mosque in Urumqi.

The prayer ceremony started on Friday afternoon as usual. Over two hundred people took part in the ceremony at this mosque in Urumqi. 89-year-old Abudulkadir has faith in the government's ability to protect freedom of religion. But he's still anxious about any acts of sabotage which could disrupt people's lives.

Abudulkadir, Imam, Saybulak Mosque, Urumqi, said, "We hope for national unity and social stability and development. We hope our lives can continue peacefully."

In the city of Kashgar, at the Id Kah Mosque, Xinjiang's largest, nearly ten-thousand people gathered to pray for social stability.

A Kashgar resident said, "I'm 82 years old. I hope that life goes on peacefully, which is the only way for us to have happiness."

"Today I have come to the mosque to pray for national unity and social stability," said a Kashgar resident.

Juma Tayer, Imam, Id Kah Mosque, Kashgar, said, "National unity plays an important role in promoting social development and improving people's living standard. There is no doubt that national unity is a precondition for social development."

Most mosques in Urumqi near the site of the July 5th riot were shut last Friday at the request of imams. As social order gradually returned to normal, all the mosques have now reopened.