Locals Say Chinese Muslims Killed by Police over Mosque Demolition
- 12 years ago
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And an update to the story we reported earlier this week about a protest over a mosque demolition in northwestern China. Villagers are now saying that five local residents were killed in the clash with police.
Last week, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region authorities forcibly removed a newly built mosque, resulting in a large-scale clash between thousands of police and villagers of Taoshan in Tongxin County. The villagers are mostly members of the Hui ethnic minority. A Chinese newspaper reported the police were armed with teargas and truncheons. Local residents believe five people, including two elderly women, were killed, that more than 50 people were injured and hundreds were arrested.
According to the Hong Kong-based Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy, more than a thousand police surrounded Taoshan village last Friday. The mosque was demolished after the conflict, and there was a lot of blood on the ground, which the police have covered with soil. The area has been sealed off.
An NTD reporter called Tongxin County authorities, but a staff member denied the seriousness of the conflict.
[NTD Reporter]:
"It's said that thousands of police were moved to that area on that day, and there were injuries and deaths, is that true?"
[Tongxin County Government Staff]:
"Only that group of people who caused the trouble."
It is reported that the mosque was built through the villagers' own fund-raising. The inauguration ceremony was scheduled on New Year's Day, but authorities declared it an illegal worship place and then demolished it.
[Tongxin County Government Staff]:
"It's privately built."
[NTD Reporter]:
"So they built the mosque using private funds?"
[Tongxin County Government Staff]:
"Yes."
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And an update to the story we reported earlier this week about a protest over a mosque demolition in northwestern China. Villagers are now saying that five local residents were killed in the clash with police.
Last week, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region authorities forcibly removed a newly built mosque, resulting in a large-scale clash between thousands of police and villagers of Taoshan in Tongxin County. The villagers are mostly members of the Hui ethnic minority. A Chinese newspaper reported the police were armed with teargas and truncheons. Local residents believe five people, including two elderly women, were killed, that more than 50 people were injured and hundreds were arrested.
According to the Hong Kong-based Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy, more than a thousand police surrounded Taoshan village last Friday. The mosque was demolished after the conflict, and there was a lot of blood on the ground, which the police have covered with soil. The area has been sealed off.
An NTD reporter called Tongxin County authorities, but a staff member denied the seriousness of the conflict.
[NTD Reporter]:
"It's said that thousands of police were moved to that area on that day, and there were injuries and deaths, is that true?"
[Tongxin County Government Staff]:
"Only that group of people who caused the trouble."
It is reported that the mosque was built through the villagers' own fund-raising. The inauguration ceremony was scheduled on New Year's Day, but authorities declared it an illegal worship place and then demolished it.
[Tongxin County Government Staff]:
"It's privately built."
[NTD Reporter]:
"So they built the mosque using private funds?"
[Tongxin County Government Staff]:
"Yes."