China has tried to justify its oppression in East Turkestan by holding an event in the Chinese capital with the participation of foreign journalists. In fact, Beijing has been suppressing ethnic minorities in the region for years, calling it a fight against the "three evil forces." The government has also been aggressively pursuing the Sinicization of Islam. According to human rights activists, more than 16,000 mosques have been damaged or destroyed, and those that remain have been converted into cafes, bars and other entertainment venues.