Author: Anil K Joseph
Publication: The Newspaper Today
Date: April 24, 2001
China has established a formal organisation
to curb the rise of religious fundamentalism and ensure orderly growth
of Islam in the Communist state. Under this, the China Islamic Affairs
Steering Committee (CIASC) was established here on Monday, Xinhua news
agency reported. "The newly established organisation vows to oppose religious
extremist activities by making use of Islam," it said.
Analysts noted that several countries,
including India, have repeatedly urged China to tackle fundamentalism and
religious extremism perpetrated by countries like Pakistan and the ruling
Taliban militia in Afghanistan.
"The CIASC vows to oppose religious
extremist activities by making use of Islam"
The CIASC is a special committee
under the administration of the Islamic Association of China (IAC). Its
members are respected experts and scholars in Islamic affairs and relevant
religious knowledge, the report said. "This committe will accurately interpret
Islamic tenets in accordance with traditional Islamic doctrines within
the legal framework of China," it said. "The organisation is also responsible
for drafting sermon pamphlets, regulating sermon content, better educating
administrators on Islamic affairs, and furthering the adaption of Islam
to China's socialist society," Xinhua added.
Meanwhile, in another important
step on Monday, China has openly recognised the threat posed by religious
fundamentalism in a joint statement issued during the ongoing state visit
by Belarus President Alexander Grigorievich Lukashenko. "The two sides
hold that various terrorist, separatist, extremist and other trans-national
criminal activities pose a serious threat to the security of sovereign
states and the peace and stability all over the world," the joint statement,
released after official talks between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and
Lukashenko says.
"The two sides reiterate their determination
to take concrete and effective actions to fight such criminal activities
through bilateral and multilateral cooperation," the statement said. (PTI)
