Muslims in China have suffered devastating blows since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has intensified its onslaught on religious liberties: believers are incarcerated and mosques destroyed. Bitter Winter has reported about the camps for Uyghur Muslims, suppression of cultural identity by removing Muslim signs from public places and religion eradication practices through allegiance swearing ceremonies in schools. The Cultural Revolution-style purges of religions are directed to achieve President Xi Jinping’s aspiration to “sinicize” religions – integrate all religious denominations and groups into the Party system so that they follow its leadership and directives.
Our reporter has recently visited the Yizhou District of Xinjiang’s city of Hami where he witnessed numerous destructed mosques. A staff member in the local United Front Work Department informed him that out of over 800 mosques in this region, more than 200 were demolished in 2017 with over 500 planned to be demolished in 2018. “In two more years, Muslims will have to pledge allegiance to the Communist Party. All religious people in China will have to give up their faith and only believe in the Party, take the path of the Party,” said the bureaucrat.
Source: BITTER WINTER
