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CHINA modated and accorded high positions, albeit only in advisory capacity, in the Communist Party. It is not possible for any entity to work independently of the system. Those are the constraints religious groups have to contend and work with.” He adds that Beijing is more even-handed with the country’s recognized religious groups than any other country, including those in the West that boast of the separation of religion and state. For example, it grants funds and land to build places of worship for all such groups when a need is identified and helps communities rebuild centers that are dilapidated. The minister for religious affairs told the delegation that exceptions are made to respect certain religious sensitivities, such as the Muslims’ need for land in which to bury their dead. Likewise, the government facilitates hajj every year. Dr. Mir sees a “considerable opportunity to engage Chinese officials and the Muslim leadership to improve the individual and collective life of Chinese Muslims.” But, he adds, this must be done properly. A strong proponent of interfaith outreach with China, he envisions ample space for Muslim-specific activities, especially as Chinese officials have given their blessings to contacts between Muslim Americans
and the China Islamic Association. He would like to see the ISNA Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances (IOICA) encourage young Muslim Americans to study China on an ongoing basis and to establish regular contacts with its embassy in Washington, SARA in Beijing, and the Chi-
universities, and colleges, a project that could be facilitated by setting up a scholarship fund and a network of potential host families. Members of Islamic centers could help them become fluent in English so that they will have better opportunities back home, especially as businesspeople, inter-
“[There is a] considerable opportunity to engage Chinese officials and the Muslim leadership to improve the individual and collective life of Chinese Muslims.” —Dr. Ghulam Nabi Mir, member, ISNA Founders Committee na Islamic Association. Relating that a few researchers at the Beijing and Shanghai Social Sciences Academies are dedicated to studying Islam and Muslims, he then mentioned their interest in communicating with members of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists. But to make this a two-way street, in his words, Muslim Americans, particularly students, must learn Chinese. Therefore, ISNA should consider funding a special university- and college-level scholarship. Dr. Mir would like to see Muslim Chinese students studying in American high schools,
preters, and translators. Specialists could also offer their help. For example, the Islamic Medical Association of North America, the Association of Pakistani-Origin Physicians in North America, and similar healthcare organizations could design appropriate medical missions to rural China, which still lacks adequate healthcare. ISNA should explore the possibility of being invited by the China Islamic Association, with SARA’s blessings, and of becoming involved in other needed projects.
_______________________________ Hilal Shimlavi is a freelance writer.
Z AY T U N A C O L L E G E Ann Idea A I d e a Whose W h o s e Time T i m e Has H a s Come Come
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26 ISLAMIC HORIZONS JULY/AUGUST 2010