Charity group sees six libraries shut down by Chinese authorities in mystery crackdown
No official explanations for closures, but NGO hints that it could be linked to religious books or foreign funding
A Chinese pro-literacy non-profit has seen its sixth library shut down by authorities this year without any explanation given – sending a chilling message following reports of raids on its centres.
China Rural Library (CRL), a government-sanctioned grass-roots group that seeks to boost literacy and education in the country’s impoverished rural areas, said its Shanxi library was shut down last Thursday.
CRL said that around 10 days before the closure, “CRL’s 11 libraries across the country have [experienced] raids more than once” from local education and culture authorities.
That would mean five libraries – one in Shanxi province and the remaining four in Sichuan – had suspended operations since late August, according to its official Weibo account. Adding the shutdown of the Lu Zuofu library in Xiaojia town, Chongqing, on May 30 brings the total to six.
CRL’s management did not explain the reasons behind the shutdowns, but in a hint that it was forced said “none of its libraries are voluntarily closed for mismanagement reasons”, according to its Weibo.
CRL’s account on e-commerce site Taobao.com, in which people were able to purchase books and donate to the libraries, were also suspended.