November 15, 2004

148 Killed in Chinese Jihad

Could China be on the brink of a bloody civil war with it's Muslim minority? Samuel P. Huntington noted in his groundbreaking book, The Clash of Civilizations, that, "The borders of Islam are bloody." In addition to China's large Muslim minority, it also shares borders with Pakistan, Kyrgistan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan--all Muslim countries. While sectarian violence is not unheard of among the other great religions of the world, there is something unique about Islam in that 9/10 of those conflicts is between Muslims and their neighbors, or between Islamists fighting secular Muslim regimes. Here is a map of armed conflicts around the world for 2003. For all the latest news on China, I suggest following Simon's biweekly Asia by Blog report.

Telegraph:

The fighting broke out after a Han youth crashed his motorcycle into a Hui builder's tractor, tipping it over. The confrontation soon escalated into pitched battles between mobs armed with shovels and hammers. Molotov cocktails were launched across the river between Nanren and Weitang - the former predominantly Hui, the latter Han - and Huis from around the country flocked to assist their beleaguered brothers.

A local imam said that one of his followers was found beheaded in rice paddy ditches, a Hui official told The Sunday Telegraph. "They share the same market, but the Hui people are insulted by the Han's behaviour," he said. "The Han stallholders try to sell them pork, pushing it in front of their faces all the time. Now the imam says the Han in Weitang are savages who mock our traditions by cutting our throats."....

At an Islamic centre in Zhengzhou, where writing on the wall is in both Arabic and Chinese script, passions were clearly aroused by the trouble between Nanren and Weitang.

Perhaps ominously, the mosque leaders appear sympathetic to the insurgents in Iraq. The mosque's Ramadan letter declares: "In our Muslim world, our brothers are suffering a great disaster.

"Their actions in self-defence have been judged to be extremist terrorism, but they are struggling in an imperialist war that is killing people and rotting modern civilisation."

The defiant mood in Iraq is apparently shared by mosque elders, a foretaste of further problems ahead for the Chinese authorities. "If our brothers are being attacked," said one elder, Lao Mai, "it is a duty in our religion to join them in the fight."

Hat tip: Robert Spencer

Posted by: Rusty at 04:48 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 404 words, total size 3 kb.

1 I wonder how well Jihad will go over with the "benevolent" Chinese leadership?

Posted by: Gordon at November 15, 2004 05:07 PM (dEFhD)

2 How can they not love pork? Mmm. Chinese Sweet and Sour Pork.

Posted by: Bill Dautrive at November 15, 2004 05:47 PM (G95Uf)

3 mmmmmmmmmmm, pork.........

Posted by: Rusty at November 15, 2004 08:47 PM (JQjhA)

4 The Han (who represent a little over 90% of China's population) have long had a well-deserved reputation for chauvanism and government-supported efforts to undermine the distinctive cultures, languages, and other manifestations of non-Han ethnic identity among the minority peoples of the empire. And the modern state of China IS an empire in much the same way the Soviet Union was (except with less tolerance of separate identity among the conquered people). The eastern part of China has only sporadically controlled what is now the western half of China over the past few millenia, and the regions bordering Korea and Vietnam also feature indigenous people who generally do not identify themselves as members of the Chinese state. Given that, it's only natural that the Hui (who look a lot like Hans but are Muslims) and Uyghurs (from Xinjiang--they look more like other Central Asians) would identify with coreligionists who also are widely portrayed as subjugated to foreign influence. In short, don't forget that such statements are the only way the Chinese state will allow the Hui to express (indirectly) their resentments against Han domination. Beijing has no proximate cause to further repression of the Imams for opposition to US and/or Israeli policies, but complaining about the even harsher line taken by Beijing will get an Imam jailed and/or executed (and, besides, many of the Imams owe their positions to Beijing anyway, through the official state religious organs).

Posted by: Jem at November 16, 2004 04:02 AM (u1JGo)

5 FROM: MRS.JAMILA.ABDULRAHMAN PRAISE ALLAH, THE MOST BENEVOLENT. I am the above named person from Egypt. I am married to Late Abdul Rah man. Of blessed memorial who worked with oil petrochemical in England for ten years before he died in oil spillage in offshore work when he went to supervice an project in the year 2001. We were married for fifteen years without a child. He died after the accident oil spillage illness that lasted for only one week. Before his death we were both very devoted Muslims and since his death I too have been battling with both cancer and fibroid problems, when my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of: 16.000.000. Million (Sixteen Millions pounds. with an oversea security company and Presently this money is still with the Security Company. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to either a Moslem organization or devoted Muslim individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct here- in. I want this Muslim organization or individual to use this money in all sincererity to fund mosques, orphanages, widows and also propagating the word of ALLAH and to ensure that the society upholds the views and beliefs of the holy Quran. The holy Quran emphasized so much on ALLAH'S benevolence and this has encouraged me to take this bold step. I took this decision because I donÂ’t have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are new Christians converts and I donÂ’t want my husbands hard earned money to be misused by people I call unbelievers. I donÂ’t want a situation where this money will be used in an unholy manner Hence the reason for taking this bold decision, I know that after death I will be with ALLAH the most beneficent and the most merciful, I donÂ’t need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health and the presence of my husb! ands relatives around me always, I donÂ’t want them to know about this development. With ALLAH all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Security Company. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the original- beneficiary of this fund. I want you and the Muslim community where you reside to always pray for me; my happiness is that I lived a life of a true devoted Muslim worthy of emulation. Whoever that wants to serve the ALLAH must serve him in truth and in fairness. Please always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for a Muslim organization or a devoted Muslim for this same purpose Until I hear from you, my dreams will rest squarely on your shoulders. May the almighty ALLAH continue to guide and protect you? Regards, Mrs.Jamila.Abdulrahman

Posted by: jamila at December 20, 2004 04:11 PM (3H16+)

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