Xinjiang’s new rules against domestic violence expand China’s ‘extremism’ front to the home

Regional lawmakers have endorsed regulations aimed at countering ‘extremist acts’ within the family

Rules could be a way for authorities to enlist women’s federation officials to work on ethnic unity, analyst says

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Xinjiang lawmakers have endorsed regulations to counter “extremist acts” in the home. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:12pm, 6 Apr 2020Updated: 5:32am, 7 Apr 2020

China’s far western region of Xinjiang has added domestic violence to its legal code to combat “extremism” as authorities further tighten controls over the region.

Under the new rules, domestic violence also covers the “exercise of extremist acts – both physical and psychological – that prevent other family members from engaging in normal production and way of life”.

Even if the violation is considered minor, the rules empower police officers to reprimand violators, and provide shelter and protection to the victims.

The rules were passed last week by the Standing Committee of the Xinjiang People’s Congress, the region’s top lawmaking body, as part of its regulations to implement the national legislation against domestic violence.

The legislation was adopted by the National People’s Congress in 2015, requiring lower-level lawmaking bodies to issue rules to put it into practice.

China has been widely criticised by Western governments for human rights abuses in Xinjiang that violate the traditional way of life of Uygur Muslims and suppress basic freedoms among the community.

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