Islam in Asia Largest religion in Asia 25

Islam in Asia

• Largest religion in Asia, 25% of Asians are Muslim, around 1 Billion • 62% of Muslims are Asian

Variety in Jurisprudence • The different schools of thought were customized for different groups, based on the traditions, tendencies, culture of particular societies.

Hanafi • Comprises the largest number of Muslims • the oldest and most liberal school of law. • makes considerable use of reason or opinion in legal decisions. • non-hierarchical and decentralized • difficult for 20 th century rulers to incorporate its religious leaders into centralized state systems

Central Asia • Toleration of Islam during Russian Empire 1860 s to 1917 • USSR, Islam tolerated during the process of consolidation in which states were divided along ethnic lines, a political elite favorable to Marxism established, state schools and institutions created • 1930 s Islam suppressed • 1980 s Glasnost, Perestroika

Sub Continental Asia

Partition of British India • 1947 along with independence, British imperial territory divided between 3 states India, Pakistan, Bangladesh • Mountbatten Plan, Two Nations Theory – Religion is the determining factor in defining the nationality of Indian Muslims • • Population transfer 14. 5 million died, 12 million homeless 2 Million missing Retributive genocide on both sides

Delhi • Thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees from Punjab poured into the city. • Muslim casualties between 20, 000 -25, 000 • Tens of thousands of Muslims became refugees • 330, 000 Muslims were forced to flee to Pakistan. • Muslim population from 33. 22% in 1941 to 5. 33% in 1951 • Total population increased by 1 Million in 10 years

China • Islam arrives around 650 through missionaries • Expands as a result of contact with Muslim Traders • Islam receives few modern converts

Separation Anxiety • China recognizes 55 ethnic minorities, 10 are classified as Muslim • Uighurs, Kazakhs, and Tajiks • Xinjiang Province

• Fall of USSR brought demands for independence • Cultural and ethnic tensions sparked by influx of Han Chinese • 2009, riots resulted in the killing of over 200 Han

Southeast Asia Muslim Majorities: Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, South Philippines, South Thailand Trading patterns spread Islam

Australia • Muslims 2% of the population • Australians believe Muslims are 18% of population • Marginalization similar to Europe, disproportionate rates of unemployment (11%) and incarceration (10%)

• Asylum seekers, Afghanistan, • Sri Lanka, Iraq and Iran or Myanmar • Smugglers, extortion • Tony Abbott, "stop the boats" platform • Offshore resettlement, Nauru and Papua New Guinea