People – China’s Hui Muslim Women, Ningxia’s Booming Halal Market, Opening Islamic Dialogue
The Hui clan are a muslim minority found predominantly in China’s Ningxia, Qinghai and Gansu provinces. Many are derived from Silk Road ancestry, practicing Islamic rites with a decidedly Han Chinese way of living. Within this cultural pinpoint is a rather unique cultural and religious phenomenon: women-only islamic schools, imams and mosques. China File has created a recent documentary on this rare islamic breed, changing the stereotypical ideas that come to mind of both China and muslims alike.
With Hui Muslim’s practicing with relative religious freedom in China, comes a different voice of Islam that contrasts from the extremist acts and rebellions that makes great fodder for media companies. There is therefore a curiosity as to what China’s muslims could say on an international stage about Islam in dialogue with the Middle East. Tatlow explores this idea in the NYTimes.
With Ningxia’s largely concentrated Hui muslim population, has come the rise of the province as a Halal meat producer. With stringent religious standards of treatment, slaughter and preparation, the province’s industry is poised to do well in an increasing Halal world population. France24 looks into China’s Halal meat capital.
Image Source: Andy Wong from Associated Press
