Chinese nursery schools ban religion after little girl recites Quran
The government reiterated rules strictly forbidding the presence of religion in public schools
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Chinese province with a large Muslim population has banned religion in nursery schools after a video of a little girl reciting the Quran was posted online.
The government in the northwestern province of Gansu reiterated the fiercely secular communist government's rules forbidding the presence of religion in public schools.
It said the country's constitution and education laws protect children.
"This video has drawn a gasp from the public, as many people are infuriated," a statement from the education authority said.
"The Education Department of Gansu province strongly condemns the act that harms the mental health of the youth, and demands education agencies of all levels to stop it resolutely and strictly bans religion from campuses."
The video shows the young girl wearing a black Muslim head covering and reciting verses from the Quran as her classmates look on.
Gansu is home to around 1.6 billion Muslims, the third largest population of Muslims in China's provinces and regions, behind Xinjiang and Ningxia.
Last year, China approved a ban on women wearing the burqa in public in northwest Xinjiang.
Later in the year, Muslim party members, civil servants, students and teachers were told not to fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
China also enforces strict restrictions on religious participation by young people outside of school, particularly in its culturally distinct western regions, where Islam and Tibetan Buddhism are widely practiced.
The government is especially wary of what it sees as the use of religion to promote a non-Chinese cultural identity or independence for Tibet and the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments