BEIJING: China has announced bans on beards and burkas in its remote violence-wracked Xinjiang region as part of tighter 鈥渁nti-extremism鈥� regulations that also prohibit refusing to watch government propaganda.
Xinjiang is the homeland of the Uighurs 鈥� a traditionally Muslim group, many of whom complain of cultural and religious repression and discrimination.
The area has been hit by a wave of deadly unrest, while authorities have stepped up already strict controls and organized mass rallies of thousands of military police to indicate Chinese resolve in crushing security threats.
The new regulations, which will come into force on Saturday, outline prohibitions on growing 鈥渁bnormal鈥� facial hair or wearing robes that cover the whole body and face.
They also ban spreading 鈥渆xtremist ideas,鈥� refusing to watch or listen to government propaganda on radio or TV, and preventing children from receiving 鈥渘ational education,鈥� according to the text of regulations published on a government website.
China has for years blamed exiled Uighur 鈥渟eparatists鈥� for a series of violent attacks in Xinjiang.