Chinese Muslims on Thursday amended their rules on the management of mosques, allowing them to hold weddings for foreigners.

Under the new rule, adopted at the eighth session of the Chinese Islamic Congress, Chinese mosques can host wedding ceremonies for Muslims from other countries, on the condition that their marriages are legal.

The weddings must also be approved by local Islamic associations in advance.

"The reason we introduced the article is to get our practice inline with national law," explained Chen Guangyuan, president of the China Islamic Association.

Chinese law adopted in 1994 allows foreigners to request Chinese clerics to carry out services like baptisms, weddings and funerals.

"The new rule will help foreign Muslims wanting to marry at mosques," said Yang Shuwen, an imam with a Beijing mosque.

He said foreign Muslims had approached him to seek a wedding ceremony at his mosque.

"But we may still have to wait several days before receiving related orders from our associations," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2006)