BEIJING – All Chinese mosques should raise the national flag to “promote aspirit of patriotism” among Muslims, the country’s top Islamic regulatorybody has declared, as the Communist Party seeks to tighten its grip onreligion.
Flags should be hung in a “prominent position” in all mosque courtyards,the China Islamic Association said in a letter published Saturday on itswebsite.
This would “further strengthen the understanding of national and civicideals, and promote a spirit of patriotism among Muslims of all ethnicgroups”, it read.
Mosques should also publicly display information on the party’s “coresocialist values”, and explain them to devotees via Islamic scripture sothat they will be “deeply rooted in people’s hearts”, it said.
The China Islamic Association is a government-affiliated body and has thesole power to accredit imams.
The letter comes on the heels of China’s newly revised Regulations onReligious Affairs, which came into effect in February and prompted rightsgroups to voice concern for religious freedoms.
The new regulations intensified punishments for unsanctioned religiousactivities and increased state supervision of religion in a bid to “blockextremism” and tackle what Beijing sees as internal threats.
Mosque staff should organise study of the Chinese constitution and otherrelevant laws — particularly the new religious regulations, the lettersaid.
They should also study Chinese classics and set up courses on traditionalChinese culture, while being sure to focus only on Muslim sages of Chineserather than foreign origin, it added.
The goal, it said, was for mosques to become “a solid platform for thestudy of the party and the country?s laws and policies” in addition tohouses of worship, and thereby develop among Muslims “an understanding of acommon Chinese identity” with the majority Han.
Islam is one of the five religions officially recognised by the atheistCommunist party. The country is home to some 23 million Muslims.
But restrictions on them are intensifying, particularly in the northwesternprovince of Xinjiang which is home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority,where there are bans on beards and public prayers.
Tens of thousands of Uighurs have been sent to shadowy detention andre-education centres for perceived offences and can be held indefinitelywithout due process.
Authorities say the restrictions and heavy police presence in Xinjiang areintended to control the spread of Islamic extremism and separatistmovements, but analysts say the region is becoming an open-air prison.
Muslims gather for Friday prayers inside a mosque in Shanghai: mosques arenow being urged to fly the national flag. – APP/AFP