BEIJING: A city in China’s mainly Muslim Xinjiang region has banned people with large beards or Islamic clothing from travelling on public buses, state media said, prompting outrage from an overseas rights group on Wednesday.

Authorities in Karamay banned people wearing hijabs, niqabs, burkas, or clothing with the Islamic star and crescent symbol from taking local buses, the Karamay Daily reported.

The ban also covers “large beards”, the paper said, adding: “Those who do not cooperate with inspection teams will be handled by police. “Xinjiang, a resource rich region which abuts central Asia, is the homeland of China’s mostly Muslim Uighur minority and has been hit by a wave of clashes between locals and security forces which have killed hundreds in the past year.

China has blamed several deadly attacks on civilians outside the region in recent months on “terrorists” seeking independence for the region.

Rights groups say restrictions on Uighurs’ religious and cultural freedoms have stoked tensions.

China last month enforced a ban on students and government staff from Ramazan fasting, while officials have also tried to encourage locals in Xinjiang not to wear Islamic veils.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2014