China's Intensifying Crackdown on Muslim Community: Multiple Mosques Closed in Xinjiang

China's crackdown on mosques expands beyond Xinjiang. Human Rights Watch reports closures in Ningxia and Gansu, targeting Hui Muslim communities. Authorities alter mosques to reflect "Chinese" styles, part of a broader effort to control religion. This intensified campaign aligns with President Xi's "Sinicization" policy, aiming to consolidate and limit religious venues.

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China's escalating clampdown on mosques extends beyond Xinjiang, with Human Rights Watch citing closures in Ningxia and Gansu. Reports confirm alterations to mosques' architectural features, aligning with President Xi's "Sinicization" drive. The intensified consolidation campaign aims to "solve the problem of too many religious venues," reflecting China's broader strategy to tighten control over faith practices.

Authorities in Ningxia's Liaoqiao and Chuankou villages dismantled mosque domes and razed main buildings between 2019-2021. Satellite imagery confirms this. Similar initiatives occurred in Gansu's Guanghe County, where 12 mosques lost registration, five closed, and five consolidated. Efforts to integrate and control religious venues mirror China's overarching agenda.

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The crackdown follows Xi's 2016 call for religious "Sinicization," primarily focused on Xinjiang's Uyghurs and other minorities. The government's response remains ambiguous, with no immediate comment on the report or policies concerning Muslim minorities. The leaked "Xinjiang Papers" highlighted plans to manage Islamic venues, limiting new constructions to reduce mosque numbers.

Human Rights Watch condemns China's actions, labeling them violations of religious freedom. The systematic closure, destruction, and repurposing of mosques aim to curb Islam's practice in China. Protests against mosque alterations in Yunnan reflect occasional public backlash. China's stringent control over religious expression underscores its ongoing efforts to consolidate power.