Muslims gathered in front of the 13th century Najiaying Mosque in Yunnan, China to protest its demolition. A brawl ensued when police tried to stop their entry, leading to stone-throwing attacks on the police. After the clash, Muslims entered the mosque and began guarding it against demolition. The police launched an investigation and set a surrender deadline of June 6 for the protesters, promising sentence reductions for those who confess. The recent addition of domes and minarets to the mosque was deemed illegal based on a 2020 court decision.

Yunnan, a province with a population of 47 million, is known for its ethnic diversity, including an estimated Muslim population of 700,000.