24

@ Halal | november-december . 2020

By Dr Rais Hussin

were familiar with the works of the late Samuel Huntington at Harvard University , the mere mention of his name would stir up the spectre of “ a clash of civilisations ”.

He listed seven significant civilisations in the world , of which Islamic and Confucian civilisations , were but two of them .

What is interesting about Huntington ’ s work was not a vision or strategy to guide the post-Cold War concept of the US foreign policy -- that different civilisations would clash and , therefore , the West should be careful not to let down its guards since most of the angst would be aimed at it -- but the strong possibility of the Islamic world and the Confucian one joining hands to face off against the West .

In precise terms , he called it “ Confucian Islamic Axis ,” in his article on the “ Clash of Civilisations ”, in Foreign Affairs , which appeared in 1993 , barely three years after the fall of the Berlin Wall ( Source : https :// www . foreignaffairs . com / articles / united-states / 1993-06-01 / clash-civilizations ).

The premium placed on the word “ axis ” suggests some degree of collective resistance against the West . At any rate , the article created a huge outcry in the Islamic world , that this thesis was an attempt to demonise the Ummah ( the Muslim community across the world ).

But lacking credible intellectuals and thinkers of impeccable pedigree , the Muslim world could not grasp the “ hikmah ” or wisdom of Huntington , much as he was trying to stir up a hornet ’ s nest .

Instead of believing the Confucian and Islamic worlds would join together to challenge the West , the Muslim intellectuals and thinkers should have converted the rather bellicose concept of the “ Confucian Islamic Axis ” into a “ Confucian Islamic Alliance ”.

Except for Turkey , which espoused the idea of “ Alliance Among Civilisations ,” ( AOC ), this together with the Spanish government in 2004 , an ideal that was formally parked in the United Nations ( UN ), almost no one could see the Confucian and Islamic world working side by side to learn , and trade from each other .

This opportunity is still there . But it is being squandered or wasted away .

How ? Indeed , why ?

Huntington ’ s concept of Confucian did include China , South Korea , Japan and even Vietnam . Of the four , China , under the current regime , has taken a rather harsh stance

Urumqi , China - capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region , Urumqi is home of the colourful and welcoming Uyghur ethnic group . Here in particular two women dancing in People ’ s Park .

A Muslim woman cooking kebabs in Xian , China .

against some of its minorities , especially Uyghurs in Xinjiang and Utsul Muslims in Sanya , Hainan Island .

Take the treatment of Uyghur Muslims , for example . About one million to 1.5 million , going up to three million Uyghur Muslims , are being surveilled , watched , and ultimately , detained .

Accounts were coming out from reputable organisations such as Human Rights Watch , or , even news network such as Vice or Vox that are freely available in YouTube point to a variety of Uyghur Muslims being detained on a broad spectrum of frivolous reasons .

If an Uyghur woman wears a scarf , perhaps , hizab , she would be summarily detained .

Based on the testimony of some victims , each jail cell can have up to 60 people squeezed all together . If and when religious scriptures are found in an Uyghur Muslim ’ s house , that person and the extended family can be sentenced to 10-15 years of long imprisonment , which China refers to as “ re-education ,” or “ vocational training ”.

To the degree China does not want to invite further criticism , some of these detainees are transformed into forced labour , by dispersing them to different factories and provinces to carry out their work .

The list of crimes is both incredulous and incredible , inviting China or those who support China to argue that these laments are nothing but sheer propaganda out to destroy the good name of China in the international community .

But BBC and CNN news in Bahasa Indonesia have verified that these indiscretions are real . It is not the West saying it but political parties in Indonesia and Malaysia too .

By missing out on forming a Confucian Islamic Alliance , China is hurting its Belt and Road Initiative ( BRI ). The latter traverses through 30 Muslim countries or more .

Alliance or Axis ?

The leadership in China has to make a swift and quick decision . Japan , South Korea and Vietnam , consequently , Taiwan , do not appear to have any problems in working with the Muslim world .

It boggles the mind that Beijing needs to resort to iron-fisted methods to crack down on Uyghur Muslims , and other religions too , including Christianity and Buddhism , all of which are diligently recorded in Deutsche World .

The proofs are indisputable , and if China were to keep heading in that direction , it stands accused of committing genocide too , according to Dr Adrian Zenz , and a growing number of international scholars .

Why ? In the next 10-15 years , the Uyghur Muslims would disappear , especially when their women are compelled to go through a process of mass sterilisation .

Dr Rais Hussin is President & CEO of EMIR Research , an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research .