I don't know how China handles religious affairs, but i would advice that you guys should chain Islam and other religions by one official Chinese religion institution. Just take over the control of religion in your country. Educate your own Imams, build your own Mosques, don't let bad people fill the authority gap and fool your population.
CCP's ethnic policy in Xinjiang during the 90s was to expand the building of mosques and Islamic schools. Not sure what compelled them to undertake this policy but they did it. They encouraged and funded some Muslims from around the nation to go on hajj. At the time China was poor so some of the funding and education came from Saudi Arabia. There wasn't noticible ethnic or religious issues. Other ethnic groups saw Muslims as the guys who sells BBQ lamb skewers at the local market, it's a hot commodity that everyone enjoys. I personally learned bbq lamb skewer techniques from a Hui.
People should keep in mind that at this time most Uyghurs lacked access to education more more severely than most other ethnice groups and most were not particularly religious, though some were religious/pious, I mean many drank alcoholand didn't practice the religion devotedly. They are largely a rural population living in multiple oasises in the taklamakan desert with differing attitudes, cultures, and appearances.
A dramatic shift happened in 2008 just before the Beijing Olymlics. Certain members within the PLA gave warnings about the US possibily initiating a plot to dismember China. The timing was due to media exposure, hoping it would limit China's toolbox. What happened was months before the opening ceremony in march, mass riots began in Tibet. The authorities immediately realised this was premeditated and very organised, creating a situation where the were multiple concentric circles of protestors and police both encircling each other. After further investigation, they found military weapons stashed in many herders' homes. Then the government initiated a buy back program to remove the guns. Tons of firearms were found and were found to be smuggled into China via India.
By this point the Chinese government was on high alert for potential destabilising activities but the population was relatively undisturbed.
In 2009 Uyghur separatist mobs now under the banner of Islam initiated a riot and massacre hundreds of Han and Hui civilians in Urumqi. Though there are reports alluding that the bulk of Uyghurs came from Southern Xinjiang. Urumqi itself was cosmopolitan while the south was rural and unconnected to the outside world.
Around this time Uygburs were starting to look for jobs outside of Xinjiang in costal China. Petty theft and other crimes were commited by some Uyghurs and were tolerated by the government because they felt the Uyghurs just need help to adapt but this built up resentment within the locals who felt it was unjust. Compounded with the riots and later terror attacks in Kunming subway station and car rampage in Beijing the public really exploded against Uyghurs. The government was forced to take action and get to the bottom of the sitiation. Was it the foreign funded Islamic education? was it forigen influence? Etc.
When the government deals with a situation they try to be through, with a one party state the can't shift blame on someone else and the public wants answers and solutions. This began the campaign to remove forigen influence upon Xinjiang, massively spend on education, security, remove poverty, build infrastructure, create jobs, etc.
