In over 1,000 years from the Tang and Song dynasties when Islam was introduced into China up until 1949 when New China was founded, Chinese Muslims had enjoyed many glories, and were subjected to misfortunes as well. In the Qing Dynasty and the period when warlords took over the throne, Muslims (in the Northwest in particular) were subjected to brutal persecutions and killings, and lived in precarious circumstances. After New China was founded in 1949, the people"s government practiced a policy of ethnic equality and religious freedom. It gave Chinese Muslims of all nationalities a new life and made them truly enjoy equality in economics, politics and ethnic affairs, and religious freedom. The national census in 2000 shows that there are 10 minority groups with a total population of over 20 million in China that take Islam as their national faith. They are distributedmainly in Xinjiang, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Yunnan and Henan, while there is also a considerable Muslim population in Shaanxi, Hebei and Shandong. Nowadays, under the leadership of the Chinese communist Party, Muslims of all ethnicities in China work hard in all walks of life, striving for ethnic unity, social stability and prosperity.
After New China was founded in 1949, Chinese Muslims of all ethnicities acquired equal political rights and religious freedom, which were written into the constitution. The people"s governments in all areas attached great importance to protecting religious sites such as mosques and mausoleums and respecting Muslims‘ faith and their habits and customs when they undertook to stabilize the social order and restore the economy. For example,the stipulation issued by the State Council concerning the minority groups‘ holidays and festivals prescribes that Muslims of all ethnicities enjoy days off on the occasions of "Id al-Fitr (Festival of Fast-Breaking) and "Id al-Kurban (Festival of Sacrifice)? The State Council also issued an order that the sheep and cattle used by Muslims of all ethnicities for their three major festivals are exempt from slaughtering tax. The Ministry of Finance sent out a notice that all land used to build mosques and mausoleums are exempt from land tax. The State Councilinstructed local governments that if names given to certain minority groups in history, or names of certain places and steles and inscribed boards concerning minority groups contained an indication of discrimination orinsult towards
minority groups, they should cease using them, or be corrected or sealed up. In places where Muslims lived in compact communities, the system of regional autonomy of ethnic minorities is practiced and people"s governments at all levels were set up, like the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (established on October 1, 1955), the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang (established on November 27, 1954), the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (established on October 25,1958), the Zhangjiachuan Hui Autonomous County in Gansu (established on July 1, 1953), the Menyuan Hui Autonomous County in Qinghai (established on December 19, 1953), the Hualong Hui Autonomous County (established on March 2,1954), and Dachang Hui Autonomou Region in Hebei (established on December 7, 1955)? Thus, Muslims of all ethnicities became the masters of their own life, and started to manage all their own affairs.
As their fortunes radically changed, Chinese Muslims started a new life. They devoted themselves with full enthusiasm into the great cause of the socialist construction and reformation of New China, and contributed their bit to restoring the state economy and accomplishing the First 5-Year Plan.
1)? Actively Supporting the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid KoreaIn 1950, a nationwide campaign to “Resist U.S. Aggressionand Aid Korea, Protect Home and Defend Country“ was launched in China. Responding to the call of the state, Muslims of all ethnicities did their best to increase production and practice austerity. They were very active in patriotic activities such as saluting the voluntary army and contributing planes and artillery.
2)? Carrying out Land Reform in Line with LocalCondition
Muslims in the countryside were not satisfied only with their rebirth in political life. Inspired by land reform in Han areas, they also wanted to carry out land reform, to realize real self- liberation and develop the countryside economy. Responding to the request of Muslims, the people"s government systematically launched land reform in line with the local situation in places where Muslims were comparatively concentrated. After the land reforms were accomplished, Muslims of all ethnicities came to take part in the cause of the socialist reconstruction and made great efforts to strengthen ethnic unity and develop the minority groups‘ economy, and accomplished tasks to restore the state economy as a result.
