Islamic Association of China

Updated on Dec 19, 2023

Edit

Comment

The Islamic Association of China (simplified Chinese: 中国伊斯兰教协会; traditional Chinese: 中國伊斯蘭教協會; pinyin: Zhōngguó Yīsīlánjiào Xiéhuì; Wade–Giles: Chung-kuo I-szŭ-lan-chiao Hsieh-hui) claims to represent Chinese Muslims nationwide in China. It is a national religious organization for Muslims of all ethnic groups. Its governing body is the national congress, and its headquarters is in Beijing.

History

In July 1952, Muslim figures Burhan Shahidi, Liu Ge-ping, Saifuddin Azizi, Yang Jingren, Pu-sheng, Ma Jian, Pang Shiqian and Ma Yuhuai met in Beijing to discuss founding a Chinese Islamic association. The Islamic Association of China was established on May 11, 1953 as the first unified national Islamic organization, designed to build bridges between all Chinese Muslims. At its inaugural meeting on May 11, 1953 in Beijing, representatives from 10 nationalities of the People's Republic of China were in attendance. Since its founding, there have been eight national conferences.

Activities

The Association's primary tasks are:

To observe Islamic principles in the context of service

To educate Muslims in religious issues for social development

To train Islamic teachers

To identify and organize the historic and cultural heritage of Islam, and to conduct Islamic academic and cultural research, compiling and publishing books by the membership

To establish and improve the management of Islam within Chinese law

To guide academic work and exchange experiences

To promote of Islamic associations and mosques around the country in community service, charity and self-improvement

To organize people of all nationalities to visit the Muslim holy city to Mecca to fulfill their Hajj

To carry out friendly exchanges with Muslims and Islamic organizations to foster international cooperation

Its stated missions and duties are:

To assist the people's government in its implementation of the policy of freedom of religion

To carry forward the tradition of Islam

To cherish the motherland

To unify Muslims in participating in the socialist construction of the motherland

To develop friendly relations with Muslims in other countries

To maintain world peace

To collect and correct historical data about Islam

Departments

Academic Department

International Department

Office of Hajj

Research Department

Editorial Department

Leaders

The incumbent President is Xilalunding Chen Guangyuan, and the vice-president is Juma Taier.

Past presidents are:

Shahidi

Muhammad Ali

Zhang Jie

Elias

Shen Hsia-hee

Saliha Shi-wei

2009 Xinjiang riots

The July 2009 Ürümqi riots were decried by both Chen and Taier as violating Islamic principles.

References

Islamic Association of China Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA