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China Urges Its Muslims to Stay Calm and Back
Official Stand on Iraq War
BEIJING, May 22 (AFP) - China on Saturday called on
its Muslims to remain calm in their opposition to the
US-led war on Iraq, and to have faith in the
government's position on the war.
"We sincerely hope that all Muslims across the country
would start from the national fundamental interests,
remain cool-minded and calm, and speak out the wishes
for peace and anti-war sentiments through normal and
lawful channels," said Chen Guangyuan, an imam and
president of the Islamic Association of China.
In an open letter issued to all Muslims in China
Saturday, Chen was quoted by Xinhua news agency saying
Muslims should avoid taking extreme actions on impulse
that may harm social stability.
"We should do our duty and obligations to maintain
social stability and unity among different ethnic
groups, and promote economic growth and building a
well-off society in an all-round way," he said.
Xinhua meanwhile ran a separate report saying Muslims
were united behind the government in its stance
against the war.
Anti-US sentiments are strong among China's 20 million
Muslims.
They not only feel kinship for Muslims elsewhere in
the world but have been exposed, like all Chinese, to
decades of government-promoted ideology that the
United States is hegemonic and a bully.
Relations between China and the United States has
improved markedly in the past year, mainly due to
Beijing's support for the US campaign against
terrorism and much of the anti-American rhetoric has
been toned down in the official media.
Chen defended the actions taken by the Chinese
government so far in opposing war.
"The stances and opinions that the Chinese government
has held on the Iraq issue represent the wishes of the
Chinese people, including the Muslims," he said.
Beijing keeps a wary eye on its Muslims, some of whom
have separatist leanings and have been linked to
bombings.
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