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<p>We are aware of, and concerned by, reports of mosques, shrines, and other places
of worship in Xinjiang being targeted by Chinese authorities. While we do not have
an accurate measure on what proportion of mosques are being destroyed, available evidence,
including that recently presented in the Guardian newspaper following a joint Guardian/Bellingcat
investigation, suggests that it is significant. British diplomats in China visit Xinjiang
every few months in order to see at first-hand the situation there. Their observations
have supported much of the recent open source reporting about the restrictions targeted
at specific ethnic and religious groups.</p><p>We regularly raise our serious concerns
about the situation in Xinjiang with the Chinese authorities at senior levels, and
will continue to do so. At the 40<sup>th</sup> session of the UN Human Rights Council,
the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion and Belief, Lord Ahmad,
raised our concerns during his opening address on 25 February. The UK also spoke about
Xinjiang during our “Item 4” national statement on 12 March, and co-sponsored and
spoke at a side event on Xinjiang, which helped to raise awareness of the situation
among the international community. The Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, raised
our concerns about Xinjiang with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang
Yi during his last visit to China in July 2018. I, also raised our concerns with Vice
Minister Guo Yezhou during his visit to China on 22 July 2018. Our Embassy in Beijing
also regularly raises our concerns with the Chinese authorities.</p>
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