A Proclamation from the Standing Committee of the Urumqi People’s Congress
The “Regulation banning the wearing of items that mask the face or robe the body in public places in the city of Urumqi,” which was passed at the 21st Meeting of the 15th Standing Committee of the Urumqi People’s Congress on December 10, 2014 and ratified by the 12th Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region on January 1, 2015, is now officially promulgated and will go into effect on February 1, 2015.
—The Standing Committee of the Urumqi People’s Congress, 14 January 2015
Viewpoint
02.04.15
Why China Is Banning Islamic Veils
Article 1: This regulation has been formulated in accordance with relevant laws, ordinances, and local city conditions in order to safeguard social stability, stifle the infiltration of religious extremism, as well as to protect the normal productive lives of all ethnic groups, China’s cultural heritage, and its fine traditions.
Article 2: It is forbidden to wear items that mask the face or robe the body in public places in the city.
The adorning of other types of clothing, emblems, objects, memorabilia, logos, or symbols that propagate religious extremism are also covered by this regulation.
Article 3: Civilians, law enforcement personnel, and other organizations within the city’s jurisdiction should comply with this regulation.
Article 4: The implementation of this city’s prohibition on wearing items that mask the face or robe the body will be based on the principles of integrated management, education and guidance, and punishment according to law.
Article 5: The regulation stipulates public places as follows:
- Public areas of all government offices, organizations, and state-owned enterprises;
- Public spaces of all [private] enterprises;
- Public transportation, transit terminals and stations;
- Schools, hospitals, kindergartens;
- Streets, paths and community common areas as well as rest and recreational areas;
- And other public areas identified by the government.
Article 6: It is the responsibility of the municipal, district, and county governments to enforce this regulation.
The Public Security Office will be the authorized body for supervising work related to the ban on wearing items that mask the face or robe the body.
The departments of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, Industry and Commerce, Quality Supervision, Culture, Education, the Women’s Federation, the Federation of Trade Unions, the Youth League, and other departments, as well as religious organizations will be responsible for managing, propagating, and enforcing this regulation within the limits of their respective offices.
Article 7: The community and village committees of the sub-district offices (boards of management) and village/township people’s governments should effectively manage the prohibition of wearing items that mask the face or robe the body in public places, and the community residents’ committees and village people’s committees should carry out propaganda, education, and persuasion work.
Article 8: Those units that manage or supervise a public place should fulfill the following responsibilities:
- Establish a robust system of job responsibility for managing [the regulation] and put into place a specialized sentry post and system of responsibility.
- Carry out propaganda and education work in public places and persuade those who violate this regulation to voluntarily cease their behavior. If they refuse to amend their ways, they should be reported to Public Security officials in a timely fashion.
Article 9: Citizens, law enforcement personnel, and other organizations should report those whose behavior violates this regulation to public security officials.
Article 10: Those who violate this regulation by wearing items that mask the face or robe the body in public places will be punished by public security officials in accordance with the law; if the offense constitutes a crime, the individual will be held criminally responsible.
Article 11: Those who violate this regulation and manage or supervise public places will first be given a warning from public security officials and ordered to correct their behavior; if appropriate corrections are not made in a timely manner, they will be issued with a fine from 2000 RMB to 5000 RMB.
Article 12: This regulation goes into effect on February 1, 2015.
Translated by Timothy Grose and James Leibold.