As China plans to ‘rewrite’ Quran (Nauzubillah), Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization threatens China to ‘not cross the redline’
Word For Peace
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization (MAPIM) was outraged by the recent report in the Dailymail by Ryan Fahey dated Dec 24 that China will rewrite the Bible and the Quran to ‘reflect socialist values’ amid crackdown on Muslim Uighur minority.
Its president Mohd Azmi Abd Hamid, in a statement, demanded the Chinese authorities to explain on the report.
The report depicts an outline of China’s recent policy move:
1. All translated classic religious books should be “re-evaluated”:
2. The new editions must not contain any content that contradicts socialism;
3. Paragraphs deemed wrong by censors will be amended or re-translated.
“We are outraged by the strings of policies against Muslims executed by China,” said Mohd Azmi.
The report reveals China will rewrite the Bible and Quran to “reflect socialist values”.
It stated that new editions must not contain any content that goes against the beliefs of the Communist Party, according to a top party official.
Though the Quran and Bible were not mentioned specifically, the party called for a “comprehensive evaluation of the existing religious classics aiming at contents which do not conform to the progress of the times”.
The order was given in November during a meeting held by the Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which oversees the ethnic and religious matters in China.
According to Xinhua News Agency, a group of 16 experts, believers and representatives of different religions from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China attended the conference last month, supervised by Wang Yang, Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
He urged the officials to build a religious system with Chinese characteristics’.
They also claimed that by “re-evaluating” religious books, they would prevent “extreme thoughts” and “heretical ideas” from eroding the country.
French newspaper, Le Figaro reported that Wang stressed that religious authorities must follow President Xi’s instructions and interpret the ideologies of different religions in accordance with “the core values of Socialism” and “the requirements of the era”.
If the reports are true this is a clear afront to Islam and will never be tolerated, Mohd Azmi said, adding that even Christians will despise this as an intrusion of religion by the communist party.
“The re-writing of the Quran will be seen as a war against Islam and Muslims around the world will definitely stand up to rebuke this policy.
“We remind China not to cross the redline. The already massive repression of Uyghur Muslims has been heavily criticised by the international community and the Muslims will not tolerate such abusive policy to alter the most sacred text of Islam.
“We demand the truth of this report and if China refuses to respond we will follow closely if the policy will actually be implemented or the policy be revoked.
“We call again that OIC must not be silent on the plight of the Uyghur Muslims and Muslims in general in China,” added Mohd Azmi.
China cannot be allowed to reign on Muslim nations by weighing down their economic muscle to silent them under the pretext of combating terrorism.
“If the re-writing and re- interpreting of the Quran to comply with socialism by the Chinese government is allowed, and OIC keeps silent on this attrocious policy, it will no longer qualify to represent Islamic nations to protect the interest of Islam and Muslims,” Mohd Azmi concluded.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/12/550929/hands-quran-or-face-muslim-outrage-mapim-warns-china
