China’s Xinjiang region says all new religious buildings must ‘reflect Chinese characteristics’
- New regulations also state that any significant alterations to mosques must be referred to the authorities in the region, which is home to many Uygur Muslims
- Beijing has consistency denied claims of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including allegations it has destroyed Muslim religious sites
The far-western region is home to large numbers of the mainly Muslim Uygur majority, and the regulations say specifically that any mosque renovations that would change the existing layout or functions must be approved by the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region authorities.
The revised version of the region’s regulations on the management of religious affairs was announced on Thursday by the official Xinjiang Daily newspaper. The changes will come into force in February.
The rules state: “Newly built, renovated, expanded or rebuilt religious venues should reflect Chinese characteristics and culture in aspects such as architecture, sculpture, paintings [and] decorations.”
They also say for the first time that interpretations of religious doctrine must “meet the requirements of contemporary China’s development and China’s outstanding traditional culture”.
The new rules also contain fewer references to “extremism” and “terrorism” compared with the previous version issued in 2014, but still emphasise the need to combat “separatism”.
China has been accused of systemic human rights violations against the region’s minorities, including the extensive use of re-education camps and forced labour, as well as tearing down large mosques and other Muslim sites.