Legislature OKs ban on full veils, body coverings in Urumqi

Two women in full-face veils are pictured at a square in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Aug 31, 2010. [Photo/CFP]

Regulation to introduce the ban on full-face veils and full-body coverings in public in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, was approved by the legislature on Saturday.

Officials in Xinjiang said the wearing of full-face veils and full-body coverings is associated with religious extremism.

The regulation will be revised by the Urumqi People's Congress, the local legislative body, based on the suggestion provided by the Standing Committee of Xinjiang regional People's Congress before being introduced in the city, according to a press release from the regional People's Congress on Saturday.

The proposal was resent to the regional People's Congress by legislators in Urumqi in December 2014.

The move is to use the law to curb the spread of religious extremism, which is one of the region's top priorities this year.