- 17 Jul 2002
- 5,907
- 385
BBC said:Ningxia province is the heartland of Islam in China - and the base of Hong Yang, a Muslim leader who commands a million Chinese followers.
Islam with Chinese characteristics, in Ningxia province
Religious freedom is laid down in the Chinese constitution, but Hong Yang admits there are limits.
"It depends on how you interpret the word freedom. Our religious freedom cannot compare with other countries. We're only free to practice within the boundaries set by Chinese law and policy," he said.
"But we don't want to overstep those limits, as that might create conflict and instability for the whole society."
Spreading the faith is a duty for Muslims, but for the 20 million Muslims in China, it is only allowed within the confines of a mosque.
China's atheist leadership distrust all whose loyalties might be split, especially those for whom religion is a higher calling.
Its strategy is to bind religious leaders into the communist hierarchy.
The Chinese handle all religions pretty much the same I think. As long as they acknowledge the suzerainty of the CPC they are allowed. If they think/act too independently or listen to non-Chinese leaders they ask for trouble. The PRC did this long before Islamic fundamentalism became as strong as it is now, but of course they like to put their oppression of eg. the Uighurs in the greater picture of "war against terror": "Look at the problems the rest of the world has. We are acting responsibly."Duo said:I think that's about right. I don't know what to say about the Chinese way of handling Islam, but it seems as a resctriction of religion, but one thinks about the other asian countries, thailand, and indonesia, and the problems that they are having with islam, well... fundemantalists I mean. So is China handling this phenomenon the right way ?
bossel said:The Chinese handle all religions pretty much the same I think. As long as they acknowledge the suzerainty of the CPC they are allowed. If they think/act too independently or listen to non-Chinese leaders they ask for trouble. The PRC did this long before Islamic fundamentalism became as strong as it is now, but of course they like to put their oppression of eg. the Uighurs in the greater picture of "war against terror": "Look at the problems the rest of the world has. We are acting responsibly."
Actually, there has been some "terrorist" activity from the Muslim community, if I remember correctly. But that was not religiously motivated, it came from the independence movement. Just like the Chechens, the Chinese Muslims were not very fundamentalist. But due to continued oppression, fundamentalism seems to be growing (not unlike in Chechnya, where the situation of course is much worse).shiningblue said:As well, I haven't heard much about violent activity from the Chinese muslims at all, anyways. As long as they adhere to the rules, there wont be any crack down. (Think Falun Gong before they became activists) China has more important things on their hands than a small group of Muslims that arn't that active in the country.
stupidumboy said:In fact Islam is so deeply rooted in China that many famous mosque are built in traditional Chinese style, and the Muslim has played very important role in Chinese history. for example, the designer of the Beijing , is a local Muslim.
seasurfer said:I think the CCP handle it pretty well. I can't imagine if China 1.3 billion people turn into Muslim, 1.3billion... 4 times the population of US...the world will be less fun...anyway the muslim countries has not right to critisize China for restricting Islam, because no Muslim country in the world allows their muslim citizens to convert or practise religion freely....sorry, I am not anti-Islam, but I don't really like the idea that they restrict people to practise their belief.
He's a witch, Burn him! (with apologies to Monty Python)I have to say honestly, I'm not big on religions who's most strictest law is to bother me until i convert or kill me for heresy.