Basic Principles and Policies Regarding Work Amongst the Muslim Population
# Date: 1936-06-08
# Source: en:MRP



traitors, Chiang Kaishek. The national revolutionary war of armed resistance
against Japan on a nationwide scale is right before us. Let us win victory in this
war, drive out Japanese imperialism, eliminate all Chinese traitors, reclaim our
lost land, and unify the whole of China!
Basic Principles and Policies Regarding
Work Amongst the Muslim Population
(June 8, 1936)


Peng [Dehuai], Liu [Bocheng], Zuo [Quan], Nie [Rongzhen], Zhu [De], Deng
[Xiaoping], Xu [Xiangqian], Cheng [Zihua], and Wang [Jiaxiang]:
The Central Committee has decided that the basic principle regarding work
amongst the Muslim population is that of self-determination; we should adopt a
position of assistance so as to promote and push forward the Muslim people's
struggle.


1. As for the situation in terms of political power, in places where both
Muslim and Han peoples live, joint governments are to be organized, and in
Muslim areas Muslim governments are to be organized. All aristocratic imams
who desire to work for the liberation of the Muslim people, and all Muslim
people may participate.


2. Muslim local tyrants may be fought against only with the consent of the
Muslim masses. The necessary capital must be donated by the Muslim people;
the Red Army is not to fight the local tyrants on its own initiative.


3. The mass organizations are the Muslim Society, Liberation Society, and
Anti-Japanese Society. New Muslim soldiers will establish separate mess units
called the Muslim anti-Japanese army.


4. The most progressive elements within the Muslim population will organize their own Muslim party: the revolutionary party and the people's party. We
shall accept only a very few elements with the highest consciousness into our
Party.


5. The three prohibitions with regard to the Muslim population are as
follows: It is forbidden to station troops in mosques, to eat non-vegetarian foods,
and to destroy sacred writings in Arabic. The relevant four points for attention
are as follows: (a) Be scrupulous with regard to hygiene; (b) Respect the
Muslim people's culture and customs; (c) Do not use Muslim people's things at
will; (d) Pay attention to unity between the Han and Muslim peoples.


Mao Zedong
Zhou Enlai Yang Shangkun
We have translated this document from Documents on the United Front, Vol. 2, p. 160.