Islamic institute steps up training to fight extremism

Increasing knowledge of the Quran seen as essential in keeping followers on right track

Islamic leaders are finding it hard to cope with the increasing demands of followers in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region who can be susceptible to manipulation by extremists trying to achieve political goals, according to the head of the Xinjiang Islamic Institute.

Making religious leaders in Xinjiang learn more about Islam so they can convince followers of the validity of their Islamic teaching is the fundamental solution to curbing the spread of religious extremism, which is behind the growing number of terrorist attacks in China, said Adudulrekep Tumniaz, head of Xinjiang Islamic Institute and deputy director of Xinjiang Islamic Association.