China bans long beards and veils

China has introduced new restrictions in the far western region of Xinjiang in what it describes as a campaign against Islamist extremism.

The measures include prohibiting “abnormally” long beards, the wearing of veils in public places .

Xinjiang is the homeland of the Uighurs, a traditionally Muslim group who say they face discrimination.

Recent years have seen bloody clashes in the region.

The Chinese government blames the violence on Islamist militants and separatists.

But rights groups say the unrest is more a reaction to repressive policies, and argue that the new measures may end up pushing some Uighurs into extremism.

Though similar restrictions have already been in place in Xinjiang, they become legally sanctioned as of this weekend. Reuters news agency reports that the new laws also ban:

• Not allowing children to attend government schools
• Not abiding by family planning policies
• Deliberately damaging legal documents
• Marrying using only religious procedures

The rules also state that workers in public spaces, such as stations and airports, are now required to “dissuade” those who fully cover their bodies, including veiling their faces, from entering, and to report them to the police.

The restrictions were approved by Xinjiang lawmakers and published on the region’s official news website.

Chinese authorities had previously imposed other measures, including restrictions on granting passports to Uighurs.

Uighurs and Xinjiang

• Uighurs are ethnically Turkic Muslims
• They make up about 45% of Xinjiang’s population; 40% are Han Chinese
• China re-established control in 1949 after crushing the short-lived state of East Turkestan
• Since then, there has been large-scale immigration of Han Chinese
• Uighurs fear that their traditional culture will be eroded

BBC