Chinese city bans beards, Islamic-style clothing on buses during event

By Kevin Wang, CNN
updated 2:44 PM EDT, Wed August 6, 2014

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • NEW: China blames militant Uyghurs for attacks in region
  • Security is tight during the Xinjiang Sports Games
  • Among the measures is a ban on Islamic-style clothing on public buses
  • Men with large beards are also banned from taking the bus


(CNN) -- People wearing Islamic-style clothing and large beards are banned from riding public buses during the Xinjiang Sports Games in northwestern China, a Communist Party-run newspaper reports.

The ban went into effect Monday in the city of Karamay, in the country's restive northwestern Xinjiang region.

It applies to passengers who wear veils, large beards, as well as three types of Islamic dresses -- including those with the star and crescent symbol -- according to the Karamay Daily, a newspaper affiliated to the Chinese Communist Party.

Last week, nearly 100 people -- most of them "terrorists," according to state media -- were killed in an attack in the region. A total of 37 civilians died, and police "gunned down 59 terrorists," the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua reported, bringing the death toll to 96.

There have been numerous attacks in the region, where tensions are simmering between Uyghur Muslims, a Turkic people, and Chinese Han people. A Muslim separatist group founded by militant Uyghurs has been blamed for terrorism in the area, the Council on Foreign Relations explains.

Xinhua said the "mastermind" behind the attack last week "had close connections with the terrorist organization," known as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.

The ban on bus riders wearing beards and Islamic-style clothing does not specifically single out Uyghurs, but its language clearly points to them as potential targets of the restrictions.

The ban lasts the duration of the 13th Xinjiang Sports Games, a large sports event in the autonomous region which ends August 20, the paper said, citing the event's organizing committee.

Xinjiang attacks shifting to civilians
The restrictions on the Islamic clothing and facial hair are among other measures being enforced to ensure the security of the event. Officials said those who violate the ban will be reported to police, the paper reported.

Karamay is a resource-rich city of some 450,000 people located in northwest Xinjiang, which has a dense Uyghur population.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/06/world/...html?hpt=hp_t2