China's Crackdown on Mosques: HRW Reports Closure and Alteration

Chinese authorities have closed or altered hundreds of mosques in the northern regions of Ningxia and Gansu, as part of efforts to "sinicise" religious minorities. Human Rights Watch (HRW) researchers found that the Chinese government has significantly reduced the number of mosques in these regions, with satellite imagery showing the removal of domes and minarets. The closure, destruction, and repurposing of mosques are seen as part of a systematic effort to curb the practice of Islam in China. The mosque consolidation policy has also been observed in Xinjiang, where an estimated 65% of mosques have been destroyed or damaged since 2017.