Citizens’ Right to the Freedom of Religious Belief is Fully Guaranteed in Xinjiang, expresses Grand Mullah Tumuniyazi Abudourekefu, President of Xinjiang Islamic Association on BFA

CPPCC News (Correspondent Mao Lijun) Xinjiang has caught attention from Chinese and foreign media. At the media meeting of a sub-forum on religion of BFA held on the afternoon of April 20^th, Grand Mullah Tumuniyazi Abudourekefu, member of CCRP, Vice President of China Islamic Association, President of Xinjiang Islamic Association, and Principal of Xinjiang Islamic Institute, genuinely introduced the status quo of religious beliefs in Xinjiang to Chinese and foreign media, enabling them to get a picture of Xinjiang, where religious beliefs and human rights are fully guaranteed.

Grand Mullah Tumuniyazi Abudourekefu indicated that under the protection of the Chinese Constitution and laws, the right to the freedom of religious belief is fully guaranteed in Xinjiang. Citizens are equal before the laws, regardless of their religions. There are 10 ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, with a considerable amount of Muslims. Their freedom of belief is not interfered with, and there are sufficient prayer halls to satisfy the demands of Muslims, whom are free to pray five times a day.

 Grand Mullah Tumuniyazi Abudourekefu further introduced that in order to satisfy the demands of Muslims for Islamic classics, Xinjiang Islamic Association has set up an educational steering committee, which consists of high-level talents in the Islamic community. The translation and publication of religious classics, including the Koran and Selections from Al-sahih Muhammad Ibn-Ismail al-Bukhari, in Mandarin, Uygur, Kazakh, and Kirgiz languages have been completed. The New Collection of Waez’s Speeches series, Handbook of Religious Activities for Religious Communities, scriptures and interpretations of the Koran, and norms of five worship activities are compiled.

With regard to the cultivation of religious talents, Grand Mullah Tumuniyazi Abudourekefu indicated that there are currently 10 Islamic institutes in Xinjiang. Xinjiang Islamic Institute, where he serves as the Principal, has a building scale of more than 50,000 m², covering an acreage of 150 mu, with a school size of 1,100 persons. The Institute has 8 branch institutes in northern and southern Xinjiang, with a total enrollment scale of 1,900 students. The Institute has undergraduate and junior colleges, with secondary schools in branch institutes. It also sets an Islamic Scripture School in Urumqi to train imams for mosques.

When the Institute was first established in 1987, it covers an acreage of less than 40 mu, with a construction area of less than 10,000 m² and a school size of only 150 persons. So far, the headquarter and 8 branch institutes have reached an annual enrollment scale of 3,000 students. “The talent needs for imams, Xinjiang Islamic Association, and religious subject teachers of 8 branch institutes are basically satisfied.”

According to Grand Mullah Tumuniyazi Abudourekefu, there are currently more than 1,000 religious leaders in Xinjiang serving as representatives of the National People’s Congress and members of the National Committee of the CPPCC at all levels. “What are their responsibilities? They serve to convey the voices of the Muslims to our government through the National People’s Congress and the CPPCC, to urge the government to solve the practical problems and difficulties faced by Muslims, and to press ahead with various undertakings in Xinjiang.”

 “I expect the Chinese and foreign media to report the practical situation of our beliefs and religious freedom to the world, so that the world gets to know about Xinjiang.” Grand Mullah Tumuniyazi Abudourekefu added.