The Uighur issue in China is not a single but complex issue. Separatism, terrorism, and radicalism as well as the mistake on the part of government authorities in defining radicalism all add up to the problem. For instance, the open campaign for halaMeulaboh, Aceh (ANTARA) - Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, made a written appeal to China, through its embassy in Jakarta, to allow Uighur Muslims and followers of other faiths to perform services aligning with their religious beliefs.
NU also sought the involvement of religious organizations and figures in China in preparing any policy to handle religion-based radicalism, including a policy to decide on the definition and indication of radicalism.
"The Uighur issue in China is not a single but complex issue. Separatism, terrorism, and radicalism as well as the mistake on the part of government authorities in defining radicalism all add up to the problem. For instance, the open campaign for halal food has been labeled as radicalism," Chief of the NU Central Executive Board KH Robikin Emhas remarked in Meulaboh, Aceh Province, on Monday.
Moreover, he pointed out that the other fundamental problem bogging down religious adherents is not being able to perform religious services anywhere in China.
Related news: Indonesia should not remain mere spectator in Uighur issue: Wahid
"In other words, they can perform religious services only at places of worship and in private rooms. They are not allowed to do so at government offices and educational institutions where they work, except in religion-based educational institutions," he noted.
Emhas stated that this form of restriction is stipulated in the Chinese regulation.
According to the Chinese Constitution, China gives its citizens the freedom to either adhere or not to adhere to a religion or belief.
"That is what I have said in the media that the problem lies with the regulation, so it should be changed to solve the problem," he stated.
The NU Central Executive Board respects the internal policy of each country, including China, to keep their territory intact by always upholding and prioritizing human dignity to handle the issue, he stated.
"We support any effort to fight terrorism since it runs counter to any religious teachings and is not justified based on humanitarian values originating from any ideology," he noted.
"Without intending to intervene in China's domestic affairs, we hope that China would develop a new perspective to define freedom for religious adherents to perform religious services. Hence, each religious adherent can perform religious services according to their religion," he added.
Related news: KL Summit should act firmly against China over Uighur: MUI
Translator: Teuku Dedi Iskandar/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
