Chinese Muslims clash with police over mosque demolishment
Today’s Zaman, 3 January 2012
Violence broke out between hundreds of Chinese Muslims and police in the village of Taoshan in Ningxia when a mosque was demolished by the local government, Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ICHRD) reported on Tuesday.
Two people were killed and many were injured in the fight where police used tear gas, truncheons and knives against Muslim protesters who tried to stop the demolition of the newly renovated mosque.
According to the Taoshan villagers, Muslims were holding a religious service, which the local authorities had prohibited. The police demolished the mosque, which was newly refurbished last year. “We are just Muslims who need a mosque. We are ordinary people coming together for religious purposes, not to overthrow the Communist Party rule,” a local business owner told Reuters.
In recent years China has seen several clashes between ethnic Muslim groups and authorities. The Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang rioted against Han Chinese in 2009 in response to their unwelcome immigration into this ethnic Uighur region and the ongoing government oppression against the Uighur ethnic minority. The 2009 Xinjiang riot caused 197 deaths and thousands of Uighurs were arrested.
In spite of the declaration of religion freedom from China’s ruling communist government, religious activities were closely monitored to prevent any anti-government agitation. The Chinese government only allows officially recognized mosques and churches to operate. The demolished mosque in the village of Taoshan was declared an “illegal religious place.” More than 1,000 officers arrived with police to remove it, the ICHRD said.
China’s largest Muslim community — the Hui ethnic group — lives in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, where the violence broke out. The Hui are descendants of Muslim immigrants from Central Asia. The Hui have integrated with the majority Han Chinese, but they are also strongly committed to their Islamic religion and lifestyle.