Chinese authorities have closed or altered hundreds of mosques in the northern regions of Ningxia and Gansu, homes to the highest Muslim populations in China after Xinjiang, as part of broader efforts to “sinicise” China’s religious minorities, according to a report.
Researchers at Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the Chinese government was significantly reducing the number of mosques in the Ningxia autonomous region and Gansu province.
In April 2018, Beijing issued a directive stating that government officials should “strictly control the construction and layout of Islamic activity venues” and “adhere to the principle of demolishing more and building less”.
The researchers at HRW analysed satellite imagery to examine the mosque consolidation policy in two villages in Ningxia. It found that between 2019 and 2021, the domes and minarets were removed from all seven mosques. Four mosques were significantly altered: three main buildings were razed, and one’s ablution hall was damaged.