Authorities forcibly took away Islamic-style architectural symbols from the rooftops of residential buildings in the city of Yinchuan.
According to informed sources, in late-March 2018, several cranes were driven into the Luhuazhou community of the Xixia district in Yinchuan, Ningxia, and workers dismantled Islamic-style architectural symbols from 56 rooftops. The demolition project lasted for about two months, teams of workers laboring from 7:30 in the morning until six o’clock in the evening. Each building with Islamic symbols was distorted.
Many residents have expressed anger at the government’s forced demolitions of Islamic symbols. “The government prohibits and removes anything connected to the Muslim faith, regardless of how much money and manpower is wasted; it’s like treating everyone as an enemy,” said one of the community residents. “The leader of this country has no conscience!”
Reported by Ma Xiagu
Ma Xiagu (uses pseudonyms for security reasons), born in 1980, grew up in a Hui family in Ningxia and graduated from Ningxia University. All of his family members are Muslims. Although he does not believe in Islam, after witnessing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities’ repeated forcible demolitions of mosques and concealment of the truth about conflict-induced casualties, he began documenting the truth that he saw and submitted his articles for publication. After Bitter Winter was founded, he took the initiative to join and became a special correspondent of Bitter Winter covering Ningxia, Gansu, and other regions.