Quake Victims in China's Xinjiang Keep Their Faith

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, March 09, 2003

Quake Victims in China's Xinjiang Keep Their Faith

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The continuation of religious services in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is bringing consolation to the area which lost more than 260 people and thousands of homes in last month's devastating earthquake.

The Muslim clergy say they have been trying to hold services as usual to help restore normality to life in the worst hit areas since the quake on Feb. 24.

"I hold five services every day as I did in the past. We held agroup service beside the mosque ruins Friday because it collapsed during the earthquake," 62-year-old Amir Zunun said.

Amir Zunun's house was located in a small village in Bachu, the most devastated county in the quake which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale. With the coming of spring, He has to sort cumin seeds for sale and buy farming materials.

"I'm so happy that none of my family were injured in the quake," said Amir, although five of his sheep were killed.

"I knew of the quake from television the very day it shook my hometown in Bachu while I was in Urumqi, returning from my pilgrimage to Mecca," he said.

An overnight long-distance bus returned Amir to the ruined family home. To his great relief, he found his belongings had been dug out by the soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and put inside a tent.

"The government offers us food, water and even tea, all free," he said.

"Without all these disaster relief materials, we could never properly hold our religious services," he said, adding that the government had promised to build a new mosque.

He happily shared his Mecca experiences with fellow villagers. "I joined a government-organized pilgrimage group," he said, adding that it was the longest journey he had ever taken.

A peasant who had never set his foot outside his hometown, Amir was relieved to learn that his travel details were all arranged for him.

"The government had arranged all the necessities, including dinner, hotels and travel. I am very, very satisfied that I have accomplished my dream of a Mecca pilgrimage," he said.

He was the first in his village to have visited Mecca. His relatives living 300 kilometers away also came to share his happiness.

Amir planned to grow half a hectare of cotton and half a hectare of cumin this year. "I will make every effort to make money and improve my life," he said.

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