by Ma Wenyan
From September 2 to 9, at Beijing’s China Islamic Theological Seminary, students who train to become imams of Muslims communities throughout the country were submitted to one week of military training.
Mu Kefa, Vice President of the China Islamic Association and Executive Vice President of the China Islamic Theological Seminary, was present at the opening ceremony of the military training week and gave a speech.
Imam Muhati Remu Xirifu from Urumqi, Xinjiang, also a Vice President of both the China Islamic Association and the China Islamic Theological Seminary, along with other officials, attended the event.
Vice President Mu Kefa emphasized in his speech that military training for future imams is not only about physical witness and discipline. It is part of the great “patriotic education” campaign of domestic Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda, in which state-controlled religions are also asked to participate. It teaches religionists the importance of national defense, obedience to the CCP, and discipline.
During the opening ceremony, Vice President Mu Kefa handed the national flag to the students on behalf of the China Islamic Theological Seminary. Representatives from the Seminary Class of 2024 made a pledge of loyalty to the country and the CCP in front of all teachers and students.