China bans its Muslims from having 'abnormal beards' or wearing veils to curb extremism in the region

The Chinese region of Xinjiang, has introduced a banned on wearing veils, abnormal bears and names in public places, as well as other "extremist signs," as part of a major crackdown on what it sees as religious extremism in the China western province. 


Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region is home to a Muslim majority, who claims to face discrimination from the Han Chinese and an area that has been plagued with religious restiveness in recent years.  

As part of the new 'Regulations in an effort to curb extremism and radicalization in the volatile area the measure, which comes into effect Saturday April 1, forcing others to wear veils is also forbidden. Refusal to also watch or listen to state media has also been outlawed. 

The decision has been prompted in part by the deaths of hundreds of people over the past years in Xinjiang where government security forces regularly clashed with Islamist militants and faced unrest among the Muslim Uighur people driven by separatist sentiments.

The new rules states:

'Parents should use good moral conduct to influence their children, educate them to revere science, peruse culture, uphold ethnic unity and refuse and oppose extremism'.

Workers in public areas such as stations and airports will be asked to 'dissuade' those who fully cover their bodies including veiling their faces from entering. They will also be required to report them to the police.


Local authorities said the new rules would ban spreading “extremist ideas,” marrying in accordance to religious rites and “using the name of Halal to meddle in the secular life of others.”

“Parents should use good moral conduct to influence their children, educate them to revere science, pursue culture, uphold ethnic unity and refuse and oppose extremism,” the statement says, according to DW.

Authorities also banned the “naming of children to exaggerate religious fervor” as parents will also be prohibited to homeschool their children.

It will also be an offense to “refuse or reject” watching state television or radio.

 

China claims that the legal, cultural and religious rights of Muslims in Xinjiang are fully protected but people from the region resent what they view as increasing restrictions on their culture and religion. 

 

China is home to 1.8 million Muslims and 10 million of them are from Xinjiang province