Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
International

China Bans Muslim Names Like 'Saddam', 'Jihad' For Newborns In Restive Xinjiang

The Canadian Press, 25 Apr, 2017 11:43 AM
    China has banned Islamic names for babies in Muslim-majority Xinjiang region, home to the Muslim Uighur ethnic minority, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday. 
     
    According to the move, children with the banned names like Saddam or Midina will not be able to get a residence permit called “hukou”, which is required for access to medical and educational services, it said in a statement.
     
    “This is just the latest in a slew of new regulations restricting religious freedom in the name of countering religious extremism,” the HRW said.
     
    The Xinjiang government claims the names were banned because of their religious connotation, which can “exaggerate religious fervour”, Efe news reported. On April 1, the authorities in Xinjiang had also imposed new rules banning “abnormal” beards or a full veil and warned people of punishments for refusing to watch state TV or radio programmes.
     
     
    Conflicts between the Uighur and the Han, the majority ethnic group in China and who also control the government, are common. Beijing usually attributes the violence to Islamist groups and secessionists whereas Uighur groups in exile consider the conflict to be a result of repression by the Communist regime.
     
    “Violent incidents and ethnic tensions in Xinjiang have been on the rise in recent years, but the government’s farcically repressive policies and punishments are hardly solutions,” said HRW.
     
    “They are only going to deepen resentment among the Uighurs,” it added.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Britain Says Fighter Jets Escort Pakistan Jetliner To Stansted Airport In London

    Britain Says Fighter Jets Escort Pakistan Jetliner To Stansted Airport In London
    Britain scrambled fighter jets on Tuesday to escort a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft to Stansted airport

    Britain Says Fighter Jets Escort Pakistan Jetliner To Stansted Airport In London

    The Bunnies Are Back In Town: Playboy Club Reopening In NYC

    The Bunnies Are Back In Town: Playboy Club Reopening In NYC
    NEW YORK — The tightly corseted Playboy Bunnies, with rabbit tails and ears, will soon be back in business in New York City.

    The Bunnies Are Back In Town: Playboy Club Reopening In NYC

    Transients Plead Guilty In Killings Of Canadian Tourist, Yoga Teacher

    Transients Plead Guilty In Killings Of Canadian Tourist, Yoga Teacher
    Two transients pleaded guilty Monday to murder in the deaths of a Canadian tourist who was camping in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park during a music festival and a yoga teacher walking his dog on a popular hiking trail.

    Transients Plead Guilty In Killings Of Canadian Tourist, Yoga Teacher

    Mother Of Canadian Killed Fighting ISIL Questions Delay In Returning Son's Body

    Mother Of Canadian Killed Fighting ISIL Questions Delay In Returning Son's Body
      Nazzareno Tassone, 24, was killed on Dec. 21 in the city of Raqqa, while fighting alongside the Kurdish People's Defense Units, a U.S.-backed group also known as the YPG.

    Mother Of Canadian Killed Fighting ISIL Questions Delay In Returning Son's Body

    Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan Hints At New Money For Military After Meeting U.S. Counterpart

    Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan Hints At New Money For Military After Meeting U.S. Counterpart
    OTTAWA — Canada's defence minister is hinting at new money for the military following a much-anticipated meeting with his U.S. counterpart in Washington this week.

    Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan Hints At New Money For Military After Meeting U.S. Counterpart

    Public Safety Minister Says 200 People Have Lost Access To Nexus card

    bout 200 Canadian people have been unable to use their Nexus cards to cross the American border since U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a temporary halt to immigration from certain countries

    Public Safety Minister Says 200 People Have Lost Access To Nexus card