Religious services at mosques around the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region have been held as normal during this year's Ramadan, while strict epidemic control measures have been put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among Islamic worshippers, local imams said.

This year, the fasting month of Ramadan began on April 13. Muslims are free to decide whether to fast or not according to their own circumstances, said Memet Ehet, imam of the Restjama Mosque in the southern Xinjiang city of Aksu.

Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. Since Ramadan started, many Muslims of different ethnic groups in Xinjiang have been sticking to the traditions of Islam, fasting every morning and breaking their fast in the evening, Memet said.

"During Ramadan, it's entirely up to Muslims to choose whether to fast or not. People who are sick don't need to fast. Also they can choose to worship at mosques or at home. The government has never interfered with our decisions like some claimed," Memet said, adding that his wife also fasts.

Yiminjan Kerim, imam of the Tuanjie Mosque in Korla, in southern Xinjiang, said the daily worship activities at the mosque have been carried out as normal during Ramadan while the mosque has attached great importance to the epidemic control requirements.

"Muslims coming to the Mosque must have their temperature taken. We also stick to the requirements of epidemic prevention to carry out routine disinfections at the prayer hall so Muslims can pray without any health concerns," Yiminjan said.

In Xinjiang, religious activities including worship, fasting and celebrating religious festivals are protected by law. No organization or individual may interfere, said Ma Jirong, imam at the Shaanxi Grand Mosque of Yining in northern Xinjiang.

"The legitimate rights and interests of the places for religious activities are protected by the law. Islamic religious leaders have the right to preside over religious activities, religious ceremonies and so on," Ma said.

Besides providing religious services, the Yanghang Mosque in the regional capital of Urumqi also often receives during Ramadan worshippers from foreign countries, including India, Kazakhstan and Pakistan, said Muhattiremu Seisure, imam of the mosque.

Like many mosques, Yanghang has also offered evening meals for Muslims breaking the daily fast, Muhattiremu said. "Everyone feels quite content. All religious activities are carried out in a peaceful and normal manner," Muhattiremu added.