With a stated aim to crack down on religious extremism, China on Friday banned burqas, veils and abnormal beards in the Muslim province of Xinjiang.
According to a report in The independent, the new measures also force people to watch state television.
“It will be forbidden to ‘reject or refuse radio, television and other public facilities and services’, marrying using religious rather than legal procedures and ‘using the name of Halal to meddle in the secular life of others’,” the rules published in state-controlled media said.
“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,” it added.
The new regulations, that came into force today, also dissuades women fully covering their faces and bodies from entering the airports, railway stations and other public places.
Interestingly, the new rules also prohibit the “abnormal growing of beards and naming of children to exaggerate religious fervour”, without giving specifics.
