Burqas banned in China's largest Muslim city

URUMQI, China, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- The city of Urumqi, China, where Muslims account for nearly half the population, has banned wearing burqas in public.

The ban was first proposed in December by local lawmakers and was passed Saturday. It's unclear when the law will take effect.

State-run news agency Xinhua said the ban was imposed because black burqas aren't traditional dress for the ethnic Uighurs in Urumqi. The ban is meant to discourage extremism preventing the women from wearing their traditional colorful dress, the news agency said.

The city isn't the only place in the world to ban wearing burqas, traditional Muslim clothes that cover a woman head to toe, including the face. France and Belgium have passed similar laws.

In France, no face covers, including burqas, veils or motorcycle helmets are permitted to be worn in public places. The move was condemned as targeting Muslim women, but lawmakers say it was designed to preserve an idea of "living together."

In Belgium, the law was "about social communication, the right to interact with someone by looking them in the face and about not disappearing under a piece of clothing," said government representative Isabelle Niedlispacher.

Ed Adamczyk contributed to this report.