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China refutes report on Xinjiang mosque demolition

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-08 23:47

BEIJING  -- China's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday refuted a report by an overseas human rights group on the demolition of a mosque in the northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, calling it "seriously erroneous".

The group reportedly claimed that a mosque in Kalpin County near Aksu City was demolished after refusing to help publicize the Olympic Games.

"The two buildings were unlawfully built structures, not mosques as reported," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular press conference.

He said the local government had not seized anything or arrested anyone.

Qin said that farmers from a village in Kalpin County had built two buildings on farmland for religious purposes without government approval, according to reports from local people.

"This violates the Law of Land Administration of the People's Republic of China," he said.

Under that law, if someone violates land use plans by building in an agricultural area, they must demolish such structures and return the land to its original state.

Qin said the farmers voluntarily demolished the two structures in late May and early June after land administration officials educated them.