Kazakh media are reporting strange rules at the Chinese border crossing of Khorgos. Men are being forced to shave their beards upon entering the country, according to the Tsargrad newspaper.
Chinese security officials explain this decision by citing the fight against Islamic fundamentalism. Border guards sometimes film the shaving process and check travelers’ mobile phones.
Such regulations were introduced in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region back in 2017. Authorities officially labeled long beards a sign of extremism. The region also banned clothing that completely covers the face and body.
Historian Roman Silantyev confirmed the existence of this practice in China. The expert noted that in Tajikistan, authorities also discourage beards among young men under 40. According to Silantyev, the police have no complaints about elderly citizens.
Official reports state that there has not been a single terrorist attack in Xinjiang since 2017. Prior to that, more than a thousand people had been killed in attacks in the 26 years prior.
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