The domes and moon and star symbols on the mosque that was being constructed in the Lanzhou New Area had already been completed, as had the framework of the main body of the building
An under-construction mosque in Gansu was demolished and Muslims living nearby were forced to relocate elsewhere.
On August 24, nearly 50 law enforcement and riot police officers showed up at a construction in Gansu’s Lanzhou New Area. A mosque was being built at the site since 2016. More than 60 Hui Muslim households had pitched in money to build the site and it was already a place of worship for many.
The officers spent the next two days guiding excavator workers in demolishing the mosque. All that remains now is cement and steel reinforcing bars.
Last year in June, local law enforcement offices had sealed off the mosque on the grounds that the authorities were planning a construction project at the site.
After the mosque’s demolition, the police officers then told the 150 Hui Muslim residents nearby that their homes would be demolished too. According to one resident, the plots were 280,000 RMB (almost 41,000 USD) per 667 sq. meters. The residents were not offered any compensation either.
However, they could do nothing but follow orders in fear. Leaked videos of people being beaten up or buried alive in the ground for protesting mosque or other demolitions are all too common.
Reported by Li Zaili
Video 1: Excavator demolishing the mosque
In June of 2017, the mosque was sealed off by the government sector, and sealing tape was placed over the main entrance to the basement
Excavator demolishing part of the mosque building with obvious Islamic characteristics
Main section of the mosque demolished
Mosque in ruins after the demolition
Before the demolition, Muslims held worship in the basement; furniture was destroyed by law enforcement officers
Framework of the mosque destroyed; no vestiges of the mosque remain
Over 150 Hui households had to move; windows and doors of some of their houses have already been dismantled
Uses a pseudonym for security reasons.
