Moulvi Abudu Rekefu is a member of the China Islam Association and deputy director of the China Islamic Institute, based in Urumqi.

In the July 5 incident, Moulvi Abudu Rekefu, a widely honored scholar, displayed praiseworthy spirit. That night, he and the China Islamic Institute staff rescued 15 residents who were being chased by rioters, hiding them at the institute and providing food and accommodations. Of the 15 rescued, the smallest was 4 years old.

The China Islamic Institute, established in the 1980s, is the only high-educational religious school in Xinjiang. A number of new-generation students graduated from the institute and became Islamic teachers in the past two decades.

The rioting broke out on July 5, during the mid-year exams at the institute before the summer vacation. None of the students and staff members was involved in the riotings.

Abudu Rekefu not only helped local citizens of all ethnic groups escape the violence, but also participated in a news conference to condemn the rioting and reveal the truth to the whole world.

As an authority on Islam in China, he has been working with other Islamic leaders to help people recognize the real reasons behind the July 5 riot.

"It's not an ethnic problem, neither a religious one," he said. "It's the three evil forces and outside enemies making trouble to us. They attempted to damage the ethnic unity in Xinjiang and disturb our peace and prosperity."

Abudu Rekefu told us of the past when his father and the rusticated youths from eastern provinces worked together. Those rusticated youths were sent to Xinjiang during the 1960s to help with the construction in the remote autonomous region, and left in the 1980s.

Now, the greatest wish of Moulvi, just as his father's, is to build Xinjiang into a better place with the efforts of all ethnic groups.

"I have a number of friends, some of them are of Han ethnic group, and others include Hui, Uygur and Kazak people. It's not a problem which ethnicity they are. The main task for us is to develop Xinjiang and improve our living standard," he said.

Now every time Abudu Rekefu prays, he is wishing for peace, stability and ethnic unity in Xinjiang.

(Chinadaily.com.cn July 14, 2009)