How is Fethullah Gülen’s Health?
During my trip, I also visited the Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association (CMCFA) founded by Chinese Muslims in 1922, where a nice surprise awaited me. While I was able to speak with two or three people during my official and non-official visits in Hong Kong, the entire administrative board of CMCFA was there to meet with me, with some them having cancelled their day's appointments.
All six members of the administrative board attended our get-together. They told me that they were very happy that a Turkish journalist coming from Brussels wanted to meet them. CMCFA Chairman Eyüp Tuet Che Yin said there were around 90,000 Muslims in Hong Kong and that half of them were Chinese. Chinese Muslims have set up two elementary schools, one middle school and two daycare centers. Since Islam is one of the six official religions in Hong Kong, a Muslim representative is on the 800 election committee which appoints the chief executive of Hong Kong. I asked the men if any of them had converted to Islam recently. Islamic Kasim Tuet College Principal Yusuf C.W. Yu said most of them are at least 15th generation Muslims. Some are even descendants of the original convoy of companions of the Prophet Mohammed, who traveled to China in 651 A.D. to spread the message of Islam. According to the Muslims in Hong Kong, the number of Muslims living in China is higher than the official figure announced in Beijing. They say the new administration in China is relatively more open to religion. My impression from Hong Kong Muslims was one of a relief as they seemed to be happy under the current system. The most surprising question came from Yu, who asked "How is the Hoca Efendi's health? I then learned they occasionally followed his sermons and articles, and even sometimes print Fethullah Gülen's articles in the association's magazine. (Selçuk Gültaşli, Hong Kong)
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