Chinese Muslims on Thursday amended their rules on the
management of mosques, allowing them to hold weddings for
foreigners.
Under the new rule, adopted at the eighth session of the Chinese
Islamic Congress, Chinese mosques can host wedding ceremonies for
Muslims from other countries, on the condition that their marriages
are legal.
The weddings must also be approved by local Islamic associations
in advance.
"The reason we introduced the article is to get our practice
inline with national law," explained Chen Guangyuan, president of
the China Islamic Association.
Chinese law adopted in 1994 allows foreigners to request Chinese
clerics to carry out services like baptisms, weddings and
funerals.
"The new rule will help foreign Muslims wanting to marry at
mosques," said Yang Shuwen, an imam with a Beijing mosque.
He said foreign Muslims had approached him to seek a wedding
ceremony at his mosque.
"But we may still have to wait several days before receiving
related orders from our associations," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2006)