Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou meets delegation before Hajj to Mecca, President Ma Ying-jeou said ROC on 8 November that that although Islam is a minority religion in Taiwan, it has enriched the cultural diversity of the nation and that their protection by the Government is legally guaranteed. “There are between 1.6 billion and 1.7 billion Muslims around the world that are roughly a quarter of the world’s population,” Ma said. “More than 60,000 Muslims living in Taiwan, together with more than 180,000 Muslim migrant workers from Indonesia. The ROC is fully to the freedom of religion and equal treatment, what creates an environment in which all religions respect each other. “This remark made Ma, when he met with a delegation of local Muslims, before they embarked on this year’s Hajj to Mecca. The nation has a group that sent the President said Hajj every year since 1954, and added that the delegation of Taiwan maintains friendly relations with the Muslim world and that it an important channel for the connection the nation with global Islam is. “This is I the delegation on their Goodbye Hajj already for the fifth time, since I became President.
This proves that the Government takes very seriously the development of faith”, said Ma. “Islam is represented in the collections of the Museum of World Religions in new Taipei City, further evidence of the enlightened attitude of Taiwan’s society toward religion.” The President said that, when he was Taipei Mayor, he successfully prevented the destruction of the great mosque in Taipei, by he classified the plant as a historic site. So, this unique example of extraordinary religious architecture could be saved and preserved as a place of worship for local Muslims and foreign workers. “This year more than 4 million pilgrims from over 200 countries come to the Hajj to Mecca,” said Ma. “From November 8 to 12 they are their faith and their love show what for their fellow human beings in which the largest religious action of the modern world is called.” According to the President, Islam is one of the world’s most influential religions. In the Center are the ideas of the preservation of peace and justice, support for the weak and the support of the poor, as well as love to human beings and all things, said Ma, adding that these ideas are very similar to the teachings of Confucius and of great benefit to the development of modern society.