Thai Muslims in Chiang Mai

Written by: Abeer Yusuf

To converge lunch and a talk/meeting with the local Thai Muslim community, all students travelled by road to Wateket community, an area where people of four different faiths live harmoniously. The aim of the visit was to understand the workings of a minority community and how their existence is shaped differently, what their cultural understandings are, and how they negotiate reality, among other things.

After eating lunch, students observed the Muslims’ Zohor (early afternoon) praying and later sat down with Miss Toi (Pha Toi) and Miss Noi/Farida (Pi Noi) of Masjid Al-Attaqwa, who enlightened the students about the Muslims in Chiang Mai.

Students observing the routine of Zuhur at the mosque

Out of an approximate one million residents, 30 000 citizens of Chiang Mai are Muslims. Most of the Thai Muslims in Chiang Mai are from India, China and Burma, unlike the south where the Muslims are mostly from the Malay Archipelago. There are 17 mosques in Chiangmai, 13 of which have received legal status. Each mosque has its own committee and appointed leader, which is chosen by the Chiang Mai Municipality.

Speaking about Chiang Mai’s cultural diversity, Miss Toi said that all religions got along really well, with no one religion discriminating another; “there is freedom to practice the religion. The Government will allow us to build another mosque if we want to.

Miss Toi also said that there was equality of opportunity without discrimination when applying for jobs, adding that “job selection depends on talent rather than on religion”. She also said that female Muslim government officers were permitted to wear hijabs (head cover).

Ms. Mimi translating for Miss Noi and Miss Toi

Using an example to demonstrate the togetherness of the various religions, Miss Noi pointed to a local Wateket incident wherein the Chiang Mai Municipality wanted to replace the Wateket community to instead build discotheques and entertainment hubs, but all residents, Muslim and otherwise, rallied together to protest the construction and defend their distinctive Chiang Mai style of living.

Speaking more about inter-racial harmony, Miss Noi mentioned how one of the mosque’s recent activities was a joint awareness campaign taken upon by Buddhist and Muslim youths to educate members of the community about HIV/AIDS ; various religious leaders also converge there to discuss and sort out issues any particular community may have, co-operating well among each other.

The community that thrives within the mosque, established in 2003 undertakes many activities for its community. In the holy month of Ramadan for example, the female youths come together to clean and paint the mosque as well as preparing food for the mosques’ worshippers as part of the fast opening. There are also Quran reading classes offered every Friday evening along with basic teaching of Islamic principles and beliefs. A radio station also broadcasts more information about Islam to those wanting to educate themselves, on air every day. Youth from the community also visit the elderly to comfort them, “to assure them that they are not alone”, said Miss Noi.

Presentation of gifts by "beautiful" Marsella

Most importantly, the community houses a religious high school for children that teach a curriculum approved by the Thai Government. Should a student choose to enroll into a religious school and not a national school, he or she will not face any discrimination upon entry to universities.

After presenting souvenirs on behalf of Monash University, students cycled out back to their respective accommodation.

ISOCM with the ladies of Wataket

Editor’s note: Where women are more active in preserving the community, via the preservation of the mosque and its activities, this gives a special twist to the role of women and their compositional significance in the community.