06-18-2003, 05:14 AM
[b:876f71fd5b][u:876f71fd5b][i:876f71fd5b]<b>written by Aladdin [/b:876f71fd5b][/i:876f71fd5b][/u:876f71fd5b]</b>
Alaikum Asalaamu
there live more than 20 million muslim in China mainland. In accordance with the Constitution of the P.R.China, chinese muslim enjoy the freedom of religion, common chinese could claim any legal religion, at the same time, they could claim neither of them, and keep an antitheist. but, employee of the state are forbidden to show that they are believer, and the official religion of China is Communism. one of the vice premiers of China was born in a muslim family, but he is a member of China Communist Party(CCP), preseving some muslim habitude.
the Chinese Islamic Assotiations are entitled to monitor any enterprise which are licensed to produce halal. and the Islamic Assotiantions take charge of the quota of people to Hajj annually.
In Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, even teachers and students are prohibited from Islamic way of life, they are forbidden to salat and fast in school, because the goverment worry about the East Turkish disunionist. Xinjiang is special.
Many traditional chinese know little about Islam and Muslim, they even believe that pig is totem of Islam. most Muslim live in Northwest of China, many are illiterate, many parents do not hope their children go to school lest children be brought up antitheists. as a result, many tradditional Chinese think Islam ignorant and behind the time. Thanks to 911 miserable attack and Taliban, much more common Chinese considered Muslims are voilent,resulting from the constant stereotyping and bashing the media gives Islam. and the East Turkish disunionist is another reason why common Chinese dislike Islam.
As to Muslims in Taiwan, a seperated province of China, where lives about 60 thousands muslim. Most of them were emigration from China Mainland since 1949. I once talked to a sister whose husband work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan authority. I think Muslims in Taiwan must enjoy more freedom than that of Muslim from China Mainland. At any rate, the Taiwan authority dont prohibit officer from Islam.