Chinese Muslims Advised to Avoid Politics

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

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JAKARTA – In order to enjoy a more peaceful religious atmosphere in China, a prominent Muslim scholar has advised China Muslims to avoid interfering in the country's political affairs according to Global International Voice News.

“This is my hope to Muslims in RRT (People’s Republic of China): Observe your religion peacefully and avoid entering the political area.

It is sufficient that freedom is given to freely observe your religion. Do not play with politics in RRT,” Said Aq il Siradj, general chairman of the Nadhaltul Ulama (NU) who shared in the meeting which took place at Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) headquarters in Central Jakarta.

Siradj recalled his visit to China some time ago when he saw Muslims in the country living in a peaceful atmosphere. Currently, there are approximately 20 million Muslims in China.

“In Beijing, people prayed peacefully in six mosques. In Guangzhou, I visited the inheritance of Saad bin Abi Waqqas (an early Muslim who was a close friend of Prophet Muhammad). The atmosphere was quiet. There were many satay sellers, they were all Muslims,” Siradj noted.

The speech was made in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xie Feng, according to Detik.com.

In his remarks Siradj also thanked the envoy for presenting a donation to 500 orphans and students from Islamic boarding schools or pesantren.

Muslims all over the globe have recently decried the policy of China for cracking down on Muslims and imposing anti-Islamic policy on Muslims, a policy the authorities have not taken any step to change.

Anti-Islamic Policy

Rights groups accuse Chinese authorities of religious repression against the eight million Turkish speaking Uighur Muslims in the north-western Xinjiang region, in the name of counter terrorism.

Last November, Xinjiang banned the practice of religion in government buildings, as well as wearing clothes or logos associated with religious extremism.

Xinjiang, which activists call East Turkestan, has been autonomous since 1955 but continues to be the subject of massive security crackdowns by Chinese authorities.

In August, the northern Xinjiang city of Karamay prohibited young men with beards and women in burqas or hijabs from boarding public buses.

Earlier in July, China banned students and government staff from observing Ramadan fasting, as officials tried to encourage locals in Xinjiang not to wear Islamic veils.

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