III.Religious extremism has been curbed.
In the name of Islam, religious extremism is a tumor that by nature is anti-human, anti-society, anti-civilization and anti-religion. It is by no means Islam. For a long time, religious extremist forces deceitfully used believers' religious identity to spread religious extremism, and wantonly distort religious doctrines and canons. They have bound extremism to religion, to religious believers, and to society as a whole. The regard those who do not follow the path of extremism as pagans, verbally assaulting , rejecting and isolating non-believers, Party members and officials, and patriotic religious individuals. They instigate their followers to overthrow secular political powers and establish theocratic states.
Being an important ideological root of violence and terror, extremism has been behind the thousands of violent and terrorist incidents in Xinjiang since 1990s. Religious extremist forces instigates its followers, especially young people, to "engage in a holy war and die for their beliefs in order to enter heaven", turning some people into extremists and terrorists completely under their spiritual control. Some susceptible followers, no longer possessed any self-control, became extremists and terrorists who heartlessly slaughtered innocent people, including Islamic religious personnel and common Muslims. Numerous facts show that religious extremism has become a real danger that undermines national unity and ethnic solidarity, sabotages religious and social harmony, impairs social stability and peace in Xinjiang, and endangers the life and property of people of all ethnic groups.
By adhering to the fine tradition of patriotism, peace, unity, moderation, tolerance and beneficence of Islam in Xinjiang, we firmly distance ourselves from religious extremists and insist on exposing lies with proper beliefs and honest deeds. It was especially after the riot on July 5th, 2009 in Urumqi and the violent terrorist events on May 22nd, 2014 in Urumqi and July 28th, 2014 in Shache County, we organized the Islamic communities in Xinjiang to immediately declare their position and voice their views on these incidents, and condemn the crimes by laying bare the truth. We consciously integrate the contents of Islamic doctrines that are in line with the socialist core values and the fine traditional Chinese culture into the religious teaching and interpretation, guiding the Muslim people to establish correct attitude towards the country, history, Chinese nation, culture and religion, and effectively enhancing the national consciousness, civic awareness and sense of community of Chinese nation, so that they can consciously resist the infiltration of extremist ideas.
IV. Foreign exchanges are carried out in depth.
In recent years, while adhering to the principle of independence and self-management in terms of religious affairs, we have been engaged in active communications and exchanges with religious organizations around the world on the basis of mutual respect, equality and friendship, establishing, developing, and strengthening friendly relations with overseas religious circles. In 2016, famous religious figures from Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other countries were invited to participate in the "International Seminar on Moderate Thoughts of Islam" in Urumqi; In 2019, the OIC delegation visited Xinjiang, and religious groups from Indonesia, Malaysia, Afghanistan and other countries were invited to visit Xinjiang; In March 2019, the Council of foreign ministers of OIC adopted a resolution commending China's efforts in providing care to its Muslim citizens.
We participate in extensive international religious academic and cultural exchanges. Representatives from Xinjiang religious circles have participated in many international academic meetings and seminars, and clerical personnel and students from religious schools in Xinjiang have won prizes at many international Koran recitation contests, demonstrating the sound cultural and academic foundation of Xinjiang religious circles. We strengthen exchanges with foreign Islamic colleges and universities. Since 2001, Xinjiang has sent more than 70 religious school students and clerical personnel to Egypt's Al- Azhar University and Pakistan International Islamic University and other overseas institutions for further study, with a view to improveing their religious knowledge and teaching level. Tell stories of China's policy of religious belief and its practice in Xinjiang well. Xinjiang has organized the "China Xinjiang Cultural Exchange Group" for exchanges with countries in the Middle East, Oceania, and Europe. Xinjiang religious delegations have participated in the "Chinese Islamic Culture Expo & Art Show" held by the Islamic Association of China in Indonesia, Turkey, and other countries, introducing the patriotism of Islam in China, and experience in resisting the infiltration of religious extremism.
Seeing the religious harmony in Xinjiang, some people in the United States became fretful, fabricating and selling a set of lies and fallacies in order to achieve their hidden agendas. In fact, the US itself is plagued with serious religious discrimination. In 2017, the president of the US signed the "Muslim Ban", which aroused opposition from the international community. According to the relevant survey of the US, 75% of US adult Muslims said that there was a great deal of discrimination against Muslims in American society, and that 69% of the general public held the same view. 50% of American Muslims believed it has become more difficult to be a Muslim in the US in recent years. In the US's mid-term election in 2018 , more than one third of the candidates claimed that Muslims were born violent or imminently threatening and nearly a third called for the deprivation of Muslims' basic rights or claimed that Islam was not a religion. We urge the US to pay more attention to religious discrimination on its own land, stop politicising religious issues, let alone desecrat the holy name of religion, because any rumor and slander cannot deny the fact that freedom of religious belief is guaranteed in Xinjiang.
Islamic Association of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
