China: Mosques Shuttered, Razed, Altered in Muslim Areas : vimarsana.com

China: Mosques Shuttered, Razed, Altered in Muslim Areas

Click to expand Image A WeChat post by the state television station in Linxia shows how amosque was closed and turned into a cloth shoe poverty alleviation workshop in Huangniwan Village in August 2018, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, China, May 14, 2020. 2020 China Linxia News Network (New York) - The Chinese government is significantly reducing the number of mosques in Ningxia and Gansu provinces under its "mosque consolidation" policy, in violation of the right to freedom of religion, Human Rights Watch said today. Chinese authorities have decommissioned, closed down, demolished, and converted mosques for secular use as part of the government's efforts to restrict the practice of Islam. The authorities have removed Islamic architectural features, such as domes and minarets, from many other mosques. "The Chinese government is not 'consolidating' mosques as it claims, but closing many down in violation of religious freedom," said Maya Wang, acting China director at Human Rights Watch. "The Chinese government's closure, destruction, and repurposing of mosques is part of a systematic effort to curb the practice of Islam in China." Click to expand Image 2023 Human Rights Watch Chinese law allows people to practice only in officially approved places of worship of officially approved religions, and authorities retain strict control over houses of worship. Since 2016, when President Xi Jinping called for the "Sinicization" of religions, which aims to ensure that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the arbiter of people's spiritual life, state control over religion has strengthened. "Mosque consolidation"[1] is referenced in an April 2018 central CCP document that outlines a multi-pronged national strategy to "Sinicize" Islam, or make it more Chinese.[2] It instructs the CCP and state agencies throughout the country to "strengthen the standardized management of the construction, renovation and expansion of Islamic religious venues." The document notes that a central principle behind such "management" is that "there should not be newly built Islamic venues," in order to "compress the overall number [of mosques]." While there can be exceptions, the document states that "there should be more [mosque] demolitions than constructions." Ma Ju, a US-based Hui Muslim activist who has been in contact with Hui in China affected by the policy, told Human Rights Watch that it is part of efforts to "transform" () devout Muslims in order to redirect their loyalty toward the CCP: "Government officials first approach those Communist Party members who are also Hui Muslims ... then they move onto 'persuading' students and governmental workers, who are threatened with school probation and unemployment if they continue with their faith." Available government documents suggest that the Chinese government has been "consolidating" mosques in Ningxia and Gansu provinces, which have the highest Muslim populations in China after Xinjiang.[3] Since 2017, Chinese authorities in Xinjiang have damaged or destroyed two-thirds of the region's mosques, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). About half have been demolished outright. In Ningxia, Human Rights Watch has verified and analyzed videos and pictures posted online by Hui Muslims and used satellite imagery to corroborate them in order to examine the policy's implementation in two villages.Of these villages' seven mosques, four had significant destruction: three main buildings had been razed and the ablution hall of one was damaged inside. The authorities have removed the domes and minarets of all seven mosques. Click to expand Image 2023 Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch is unable to determine the number of mosques shuttered or repurposed throughout Ningxia and Gansu, as official documents do not give precise details. In a forthcoming research report, two scholars on Hui Muslims, Hannah Theaker and David Stroup, have estimated that one-third of mosques in Ningxia have been closed since 2020.[4] A March 2021 Radio Free Asia report estimated that between 400 and 500 mosques faced closure in Ningxia, which had 4,203 mosques as of 2014. The Chinese government claims that the mosque consolidation policy aims to "reduce the economic burden" on Muslims, especially those who live in impoverished and rural areas.[5] Actions against mosques often take place as the Chinese government relocates villagers from these areas, consolidating several villages into one.[6] The government also claims that as different Islamic denominations share the same venues, they learn to become more "unified" and "harmonious." Some Hui Muslims have publicly opposed the policy, despite government censorship. In January 2021, Ningxia officials indicted five Hui for "creating disturbances" after they led 20 people to oppose the policy at the village Party chief's office. People have also protested mosque closures and demolitions, as well as the removal of domes and minarets in Ningxia, Gansu and other Hui Muslim regions, such as Qinghai and Yunnan.[7] Ma Ju told Human Rights Watch that mosque consolidation aims to dissuade people from going to pray at mosques: "After removing the minarets and domes, local governments would start removing things that are essential to religious activities such as ablution halls and preacher's podiums." Ma Ju said the government has sought to discourage religious practice: "When people stop going, they [the authorities] would then use that as an excuse to close the mosques." He said that the authorities install surveillance systems in the remaining "Sinicized" mosques: "After the mosques are converted, the local governments strictly monitor attendance at the remaining mosques," he said. "In the beginning, they would check the attendees' national identification cards. Then they install surveillance cameras ... to flag [those prohibited from mosques, including] Communist Party members or children." Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that "[e]veryone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion." One has the right to manifest their "religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance." The Chinese government should reverse its Sinicization campaign on religions, review and repeal laws and regulations that restrict the right to freedom of religion, and release those detained for peaceful criticism or protest against such restrictive policies. Foreign governments, particularly member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), should press the Chinese government to cease their mosque consolidation policy and the broader Sinicization campaign. "The Chinese government's policies of Sinicization show a blanket disregard for freedom of religion not only of all Muslims in China, but all religious communities in the country," Wang said. "Governments concerned about religious freedom should raise these issues directly with the Chinese government and at the United Nations and other international forums." For additional detail about mosque closures and satellite images of the changes, please see below. Mosque Closures Large-scale mosque closures last took place in China in the 1950s, after the Chinese Communist Party took over the country in 1949. Authorities razed or consolidated an estimated 90 percent of Ningxia's mosques prior the Cultural Revolution in 1966. After the end of the Cultural Revolution a decade later, people in China rebuilt their religious lives, constructing many mosques even as the Chinese government maintained strict control over religion. Today, authorities retain control over personnel appointments, publications, finances, and seminary applications for the five officially approved religions. Since 2016, when President Xi Jinping called for the "Sinicization"

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Province , Yinchuan City , Ningxia Hui Autonomous , Liaoqiao Village , South Mosque , Liujiagou Mosque , Chuankou Village , Xiji County , Huangniwan Village , Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture , Linxia Television Station , Making Islam Chinese , Religious Policy , Mosque Sinicization , Rural China , Laochi South Mosque , Laochi North Mosque , Laochi East Mosque , Qinghai Province , Yunnan Province , Islamic Work , New Situation , Yichuan People , Three Year Action Plan , Yichuan City , City Government , Work Report , Jun Examines Guyuan City Ethnicity , Religious Work , Click To Expand Imagea Wechat Post By The State Television Station In Linxia Shows How Amosque Was Closed And Turned Intoa Cloth Shoe Poverty Alleviation Workshop Huangniwan Village August 2018 , Gansu Province , May 14 , 020 2020 China Linxia News Network New York The Chinese Government Is Significantly Reducing Number Of Mosques In Ningxia And Gansu Provinces Under Its Quot Mosque Consolidation Policy , N Violation Of The Right To Freedom Religion , Uman Rights Watch Said Today Chinese Authorities Have Decommissioned , Closed Down , Demolished , Nd Converted Mosques For Secular Use As Part Of The Government 39s Efforts To Restrict Practice Islam Authorities Have Removed Islamic Architectural Features , Uch As Domes And Minarets , Rom Many Other Mosques Quot The Chinese Government Is Not 39 Consolidating As It Claims , Ut Closing Many Down In Violation Of Religious Freedom , Uot Said Maya Wang , Cting China Director At Human Rights Watch Quot The Chinese Government 39s Closure , Estruction , Nd Repurposing Of Mosques Is Part Ofa Systematic Effort To Curb The Practice Islam In China Quot Click Expand Image 2023 Human Rights Watch Chinese Law Allows People Only Officially Approved Places Worship Religions , Nd Authorities Retain Strict Control Over Houses Of Worship Since 2016 , Hen President Xi Jinping Called For The Quot Sinicization Of Religions , Hich Aims To Ensure That The Chinese Communist Party Ccp Is Arbiter Of People 39s Spiritual Life , Tate Control Over Religion Has Strengthened Quot Mosque Consolidation 1 Is Referenced In An April 2018 Central Ccp Document That Outlinesa Multi Pronged National Strategy To Sinicize Islam , R Make It More Chinese 2 Instructs The Ccp And State Agencies Throughout Country To Quot Strengthen Standardized Management Of Construction , Enovation And Expansion Of Islamic Religious Venues Quot The Document Notes Thata Central Principle Behind Such Management Is That There Should Not Be Newly Built , Uot In Order To Quot Compress The Overall Number Of Mosques While There Can Be Exceptions , He Document States That Quot There Should Be More Mosque Demolitions Than Constructions Ma Ju , A Us Based Hui Muslim Activist Who Has Been In Contact With China Affected By The Policy , Old Human Rights Watch That It Is Part Of Efforts To Quot Transform Devout Muslims In Order Redirect Their Loyalty Toward The Ccp Government Officials First Approach Those Communist Party Members Who Are Also Hui Then They Move Onto 39 Persuading Students And Governmental Workers , Ho Are Threatened With School Probation And Unemployment If They Continue Their Faith Quot Available Government Documents Suggest That The Chinese Has Been Consolidating Mosques In Ningxia Gansu Provinces , Hich Have The Highest Muslim Populations In China After Xinjiang 3 Since 2017 , Hinese Authorities In Xinjiang Have Damaged Or Destroyed Two Thirds Of The Region 39s Mosques , Ccording To The Australian Strategic Policy Institute Aspi About Half Have Been Demolished Outright In Ningxia , Uman Rights Watch Has Verified And Analyzed Videos Pictures Posted Online By Hui Muslims Used Satellite Imagery To Corroborate Them In Order Examine The Policy 39s Implementation Two Villages Of These 39 Seven Mosques , Our Had Significant Destruction Three Main Buildings Been Razed And The Ablution Hall Of One Was Damaged Inside Authorities Have Removed Domes Minarets All Seven Mosques Click To Expand Image 2023 Human Rights Watch Is Unable Determine Number Shuttered Or Repurposed Throughout Ningxia Gansu , S Official Documents Do Not Give Precise Details Ina Forthcoming Research Report , Wo Scholars On Hui Muslims , Annah Theaker And David Stroup , Ave Estimated That One Third Of Mosques In Ningxia Have Been Closed Since 2020 4a March 2021 Radio Free Asia Report Between 400 And 500 Faced Closure , Hich Had 4 , 203 Mosques As Of 2014 The Chinese Government Claims That Mosque Consolidation Policy Aims To Quot Reduce Economic Burden On Muslims , Specially Those Who Live In Impoverished And Rural Areas 5 Actions Against Mosques Often Take Place As The Chinese Government Relocates Villagers From These , Onsolidating Several Villages Into One 6 The Government Also Claims That As Different Islamic Denominations Share Same Venues , Hey Learn To Become More Quot Unified And Harmonious Some Hui Muslims Have Publicly Opposed The Policy , Espite Government Censorship In January 2021 , Ingxia Officials Indicted Five Hui For Quot Creating Disturbances After They Led 20 People To Oppose The Policy At Village Party Chief 39s Office Have Also Protested Mosque Closures And Demolitions , S Well As The Removal Of Domes And Minarets In Ningxia , Ansu And Other Hui Muslim Regions , Uch As Qinghai And Yunnan 7 Ma Ju Told Human Rights Watch That Mosque Consolidation Aims To Dissuade People From Going Pray At Mosques Quot After Removing The Minarets Domes , Ocal Governments Would Start Removing Things That Are Essential To Religious Activities Such As Ablution Halls And Preacher 39s Podiums Quot Ma Ju Said The Government Has Sought Discourage Practice When People Stop Going , Hey The Authorities Would Then Use That As An Excuse To Close Mosques Quot He Said Install Surveillance Systems In Remaining Sinicized After Are Converted , He Local Governments Strictly Monitor Attendance At The Remaining Mosques , Uot He Said Quot In The Beginning , Hey Would Check The Attendees 39 National Identification Cards Then They Install Surveillance Cameras To Flag Those Prohibited From Mosques , Ncluding Communist Party Members Or Children Quot Article 18 Of The Universal Declaration Human Rights Provides That Quote Veryone Has Right To Freedom Thought , Onscience And Religion Quot One Has The Right To Manifest Their Or Belief In Teaching , Ractice , Orship And Observance Quot The Chinese Government Should Reverse Its Sinicization Campaign On Religions , Eview And Repeal Laws Regulations That Restrict The Right To Freedom Of Religion , Nd Release Those Detained For Peaceful Criticism Or Protest Against Such Restrictive Policies Foreign Governments , Articularly Member Countries Of The Organization Islamic Cooperation Oic , Hould Press The Chinese Government To Cease Their Mosque Consolidation Policy And Broader Sinicization Campaign Quot 39s Policies Of Showa Blanket Disregard For Freedom Religion Not Only All Muslims In China , Ut All Religious Communities In The Country , Uot Wang Said Quot Governments Concerned About Religious Freedom Should Raise These Issues Directly With The Chinese Government And At United Nations Other International Forums For Additional Detail Mosque Closures Satellite Images Of Changes , Lease See Below Mosque Closures Large Scale Last Took Place In China The 1950s , Fter The Chinese Communist Party Took Over Country In 1949 Authorities Razed Or Consolidated An Estimated 90 Percent Of Ningxia 39s Mosques Prior Cultural Revolution 1966 After End Revolutiona Decade Later , Eople In China Rebuilt Their Religious Lives , Onstructing Many Mosques Even As The Chinese Government Maintained Strict Control Over Religion Today , Uthorities Retain Control Over Personnel Appointments , Ublications , Inances , Nd Seminary Applications For The Five Officially Approved Religions Since 2016 , Hen President Xi Jinping Called For The Quot Sinicization ,

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