Combating terrorism Muslims’ collective wish

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): A Muslim leader in China’s megacity of Shanghai told the Tehran Times that Muslims in China are supporting the fight against terrorism.

“There are more than 200,000 Muslims living in Shanghai, 100,000 of whom are from other cities,” said the Vice-Chairman of the Islamic Association of China, Musa Jin Hung Wei, in an interview with the Tehran Times, on the status quo of Muslims in Shanghai.

“In addition to daily life, Muslims also need indoctrination of moral principles. They should be more familiar with Islam. They should also get acquainted with the challenges of the Islamic world,” he added.

Imam of the congregation of Shanghai Xiaotaoyuan Mosque went on “the Islamic association of Shanghai has proposed that Imams act in the direction of Muslim unification. This association cares about relations with other countries and is also related to other religions in Shanghai.”

Referring to a visit of a delegation from the Islamic association of Shanghai to Iran, he said “last year, a delegation from the Islamic association of Shanghai visited Iran and exchanged views with Muslims in various Iranian cities.”

“Some Chinese media, including China Daily and China's National Television, cover the Muslim situation in China and their related news,” Musa stated.

Referring to the visit of a media delegation from Mehr News Agency and the Tehran Times newspaper to China and their visit to the Islamic association of Shanghai, in which they suggested bilateral cooperation, he underlined “we support media cooperation between Iran and China."

He noted “the Islamic association of Shanghai has its own special journals and is also active in the new media."

“Activities in the new media ease the way for the association to inform the Muslim news at high speed about them,” he highlighted.

Speaking on other activities of the Islamic association, he underscored, “Muslims in China have their own proper education and different classes of the Islamic community get the essential education about Islam. This association prepares the clerics by teaching them for the imamate of the mosques.”

“We educate Islamic teachings during Ramadan and holidays. The mosques are active in Shanghai during the daytime and the clergy promote the Islamic education,” he added

Pointing to terrorism, he stressed “combating terrorism is an Islamic community’s collective wish. Peace and stability are important to the world. China has made serious efforts in combating terrorism. The goal is that people live in peace and stability.”

“The Iranian government has played an important role in creating peace and stability,” Musa emphasized.

Hinting at the Silk Road revival and the cultural program of the Islamic association of Shanghai for cultural relations with Muslims of the countries on the direction of the Silk Road, he said “we support the Silk Road project. We have plans for cultural exchanges. We are trying to make a positive contribution to this project and its cultural exchanges.”


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