Taiwan plans events to build religious amity in Ramadan

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) – Taiwan on Tuesday said it is planning to hold events to promote cultural and religious diversity during the upcoming Muslim month of Ramadan, when Muslims across the globe fast from dawn to dusk.

The island nations’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will join the Muslim world in celebrating Ramadan with two events “to promote cultural and religious diversity in Taiwan,” daily Focus Taiwan reported.

Nearly 250,000 Muslims live in Taiwan – with 50,000 native Taiwanese while the remaining 200,000 are foreign citizens.

An Islamic cultural exhibition – Arabic calligraphy, Islamic artifacts, Islamic architecture and Islam in Taiwan – will be held from April 9 to April 18 at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei to welcome the holy month, said Yang Syin-yi, the ministry's director for West Asian and African Affairs.

“The two events aim to deepen the understanding of Muslim cultures among Taiwanese and promote cultural and religious diversity in Taiwan,” Yang said.

He added that the exhibit will display items received from Chinese Muslim Association and Taiwan’s representative offices in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, and Somaliland.

Besides, the ministry will host interactive activities for two days during the fasting month where artists will showcase their work in Arabic calligraphy and visitors will learn how the ‘halal’ food industry flourished in the country, as well as Eid al-Fitr traditions will be on display.

Muslims mark the end of the 29 or 30-day long Ramadan with celebrations on Eid al-Fitr – a religious holiday.