(Photo: GT)
The Islamic association in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province gathers religious faculty, management staff and guards from local mosques for a fire drill before Ramadan.
Chinese cities are intensifying security measures at religious sites to maintain the orderly conduct of religious activities as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan started on Monday.
The China Islamic Association and religion departments in regions including Beijing, Shanghai and Jiangsu Province have asked local religion departments and Islamic associations to heighten inspections on public security and food in religious venues to create a harmonious atmosphere as Muslims celebrate the festival, the Global Times found on Monday.
During the Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset.
The Nanjing Islamic Association in Jiangsu Province recently gathered religious faculty, management staff and security guards from three local mosques and some members of the public for a fire drill before Ramadan, according to a news release published on the China Islamic Association on Sunday.
Mosques in Shanghai shall intensify the publicity of the sinicization of Islam during Ramadan as swarms of believers visit mosques. Mosques should promote patriotism and make the Constitution, core socialist values and traditional classical Chinese culture truly integrate in their religious lives, the Shanghai municipal religious affairs bureau said at a recent working conference.
The Beijing Islamic Association also held meetings in April over security and other support measures for Ramadan. Local associations need to be more precautious to create a harmonious atmosphere during Ramadan, according to a statement released by the Beijing Islamic Association.
Xiong Kunxin, a professor of ethnic studies at Beijing-based Minzu University of China, told the Global Times on Monday that such measures are meant to protect Muslims during the special period, as some people might deliberately sabotage or instigate ethnic conflict and hurt national unity during Ramadan.