Pakistani Usman Iqbal, 33, is one of the youngest faculty members at Taipei Medical University, where he teaches as an assistant professor, researches health informatics and manages several national and international health IT projects.
He has witnessed many changes in the decade he has lived in Taiwan, but as a Muslim, he pays particular attention to the treatment of Muslims, Iqbal said.
“When I first got here, it was hard to tell if a food product contained pork or not, which made every meal full of surprises,” he said.
Thanks to the government’s push for halal certification — which identifies operators that serve food in compliance with Islamic dietary law — dining has become far easier, he said.
Today, halal-certified food products are clearly labeled and can be found at major supermarkets, he said.
Two new mosques have also been built since he arrived, making it easier for Muslims to worship, Iqbal added.
He said he has found that authorities show great respect for Muslims, such as when police put traffic controls in place during mosque services.
“I think Taiwan is very friendly [toward Muslims]; it is pretty good,” he said.
Iqbal said he has noticed more visitors from Muslim countries, an observation that seems to be supported by official reports.
In the 2018 Report on International Religious Freedom released earlier this month by the US Department of State, Taiwan was recognized for making “significant” progress in improving rights for Muslims.
The report cited the Taipei-based Chinese-Muslim Association as saying: “Authorities were making significant progress in improving rights for Muslims,” such as increasing the number of restaurants and hotels that cater to halal requirements, and establishing prayer rooms.
Taiwan’s friendliness toward Muslims is one of the main reasons why Iqbal applied for a Plum Blossom Card, which grants permanent residency to foreigners in recognition of their special contributions to Taiwan as part of the government’s efforts to retain top international talent.
The program is aimed at uniquely qualified, skilled professionals. For those who receive the card, there are no minimum residency or income requirements, and no filing fees, unlike other permanent residency programs.
Highly qualified foreigners who have made contributions to Taiwan or those who have invested at least US$200,000 in the nation are eligible to apply.
Currently, 90 people have Plum Blossom Cards, National Immigration Agency statistics showed.
After learning of the program and that his expertise in the use of artificial intelligence in medicine meant he could qualify, Iqbal applied in July 2017 and received the card in April, becoming the first Pakistani to do so.
Iqbal said that Taiwan’s strong technological infrastructure allows him to continue to learn from the best in his field and conduct research.
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) has funded short-term internships in Taiwan for more than 4,500 young people from more than 40 countries since 2015, with the goal of attracting and retaining international talent, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. Fifty-five colleges launched 514 projects this year, including in fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, medicine and biotechnology, green energy, and sustainability, it said. The program provides research and practical internships in Taiwan for two to six months, and offers cultural exchange and networking opportunities, the ministry said. For example, National Formosa University’s Embedded System and Autopilot Laboratory developed two solar-powered drones in
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
Taipei resident Mu Chu-hua caught some glimpses of China’s mighty military parade on YouTube on Wednesday. As she watched hypersonic missiles roll down Beijing’s Changan Avenue and troops march in lockstep, she did not feel like they posed a threat to Taiwan. Mu, a 69-year-old retiree, said she saw the parade as simply a way for Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to “say thank you to the troops.” “I thought it was quite normal,” she said. “It was very cool.” China’s military parade commemorating the end of World War II was being watched internationally for insights into Beijing’s military advances and its show
RSS