Ban on spreading extremism among children in line with law: experts

A new regulation, which encourages people to call the police if they find parents or guardians organizing, luring or forcing their children into religious activities is in accordance with the country's law on religious freedom, experts said on Wednesday.

The regulation, released by the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on Wednesday and to be effective on November 1, says that parents and guardians should neither promote extremist beliefs in children, nor force them to wear extremist clothing and symbols.

"Any group or individuals have the right to stop such behavior and report them to the public security authorities," Article 9 reads. The regulation also bans any form of religious activities in schools.

Article 16 stipulates that schools must guide students away from separatism, terrorism and extremism, to create a healthy environment that "respects science, refuses ignorance and opposes superstition."

Xi Wuyi, an expert on Marxism and religious studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that this regulation conforms to the Constitution which protects the freedom of religion, because separation of education and religion is a key principle of China's education and religious activities.

"It is highly important to contain religious extremism and terrorism and build a harmonious society, and the regulation will protect our minors from the harm of extremism," Xi said.

China's Education Law states that "no organization and personnel can use religion to interrupt the activities of State's educational system."

Education authorities in Gansu Province in May reiterated a ban on religious activities in schools, following an online outrage sparked by a video showing kindergarten students reciting the Koran.

Gansu's education department said in a statement on its official Sina Weibo account that apart from religious schools approved by the government, all schools are banned from holding religious activities, offering religious classes or forcing students to follow any religion. Schools are also forbidden from establishing religious groups.