REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- New Muslim converts among Chinese ethnic face uneasy challenges, cites Syarif Tanudjaja, who leads Indonesian Chinese Muslim Association (PITI). Most of them convert to Islam by marriage, although no data is provided to explain the fact. Then, knowledge of Islamic teachings becomes a challenge among the new converts.     

Tanudjaja admitted, some Chinese descendants had some feelings of prejudice against Islam. This is due to the fact that Islam was associated with native Indonesians from middle or lower class in colonial period. Then they were fear that embracing Islam downgraded their social status. While Indonesian’s colonial occupiers or high rank officials mostly were non-Muslims. Until recently, such prejudice still lingers among Chinese descendants.

The challenges are even greater when a Chinese woman is going to marry a Muslim man from different ethnical background. The bride’s family usually sets certain conditions for the groom. For example, the groom’s good educational background and economically establishment are advantages if he wants to approach the bride’s family. 

Yet, Tanudjaja understood, those parents just try to protect their children. The situation is more complex if the children will convert to Islam. PITI will provide some assistance for the bride or groom to convert to Islam then help them to tie the knots. 

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