CNN reported last Thursday that "more than 100 Uygur graveyards were demolished by Chinese authorities," showing satellite images of the Sultanim "cemetery" and jumping to the conclusion that China has been destroying traditional Uygur cemeteries as part of a "campaign to control Islamic beliefs and Muslim minority groups within its border."
The Global Times reporters on Monday visited the Sultanim "cemetery" in Hotan, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and interviewed local residents and officials to reveal the true picture. The "cemetery" was located next to residential areas in downtown Hotan and was a source of complaint for local residents.
Some Uygur residents living in the residential area confirmed to the Global Times that some people were buried in the "cemetery" many decades ago and many of the graves were placed in disorder. There was no grave watcher.
Many children of different ethnic groups play around the residential area. Residents living close to the "cemetery" confirmed with the Global Times that they would not allow their children to get close to the place out of concerns for safety and sanitation.
An official from Hotan local government, who preferred to be called Maizi, told the Global Times that many residents complained to the government about these graves.
The Global Times reporters also found the place where these graves were relocated - a public cemetery in Buzhage county. The facility of the cemetery is still a work in progress and it is about 10 to 15 minutes of driving from the downtown area.
Maizi said that relevant departments made a public notice to help trace family members of innominate graves in Sultanim cemetery. And after two months, they relocated these innominate graves to the new place. Tracing work is ongoing.
Reziwangul, 40, who happened to be in a newly built public cemetery to commemorate her mother who passed away dozens days ago, told the Global Times that she relocated her father's grave to the new place 10 months ago. Her parents' graves are close to each other now.
Tursuniyazi Ashim, 53, an official from Hotan civil affairs bureau, told the Global Times that at least 400 mu (more than 266,666 square meters) of land have been designated as new public cemeteries for ethnic groups in Hotan to meet residents' demands.
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region fully respects the rights of ethnic groups and has taken a series of measures, including allocating specific areas for public cemeteries, to protect their rights, a regional spokesperson told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Friday.
This article was originally posted by The Global Times news agency
