Chinese Muslim Association


The Chinese Muslim Association is an organization of Chinese Muslims in the Republic of China. It runs the Taipei Grand Mosque. A rival group, the Chinese Muslim Youth League competes with it on Taiwan.

History

In Mainland China

The Chinese Muslim Association was originally established in 1938 in Wuhan as Chinese Muslim Salvation Association with the sponsorship from Kuomintang. The organization was renamed to Muslim Association in 1939 and was changed to Chinese Muslim Association in 1942. After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to China in 1945, the CMA in Nanking appointed Chang Zichun, Wang Jingzhai and Zheng Houren to form the preparatory committee of the CMA branch in Taiwan on 23 December 1947.

In Taiwan

In 1951 at the end of Chinese Civil War, the association evacuated Mainland China with the Nationalist Government to Taiwan and settled there ever since. It was formally reestablished in 1958.

Activities

The Chinese Muslim Association undertakes various activities across Taiwan such as volunteering, and Muslims view it in good standing. Each mosque and its dealings are run by their own board of directors. Scholarships and discourses are arranged by its Foundation of Islamic Culture and Education.
CMA sponsors a weekly radio program beamed to Mainland China by the Broadcasting Corporation of China. They supply reading materials for Muslims in the ROC Armed Forces.
Besides providing services for Muslims and helping to improve the welfare of Taiwan society, the association through their Overseas Affairs Commission also actively engages in cultural exchanges with Muslims in 46 countries around the world, many of which the ROC Government does not have any formal diplomatic relation with them. They also receive and entertain many foreign Muslim visitors to Taiwan.
CMA has been sending Taiwanese Muslim students overseas to receive formal Islamic education. To further improve the effort in preserving the Islamic faith among the Muslims, the association has developed a plan to "educating secular educators" and that the Bureau of Education of the Taipei City Government has approve the proposal to hold Islamic courses for primary and secondary school teachers during summer vacations. They also provide authentic Islamic information to public school teachers to eliminate the Islamic stereotyping and misunderstanding.
In 1980, the CMA donated US$50,000 to help Afghan refugees.

List of CMA leaders

List of CMA President: