Uighurs

China Uighurs: Xinjiang ban on long beards and veils

The measures include prohibiting "abnormally" long beards, the wearing of veils in public places and refusing to watch state television.

Xinjiang is the homeland of the Uighurs, a traditionally Muslim group who say they face discrimination.

Recent years have seen bloody clashes in the region.

The Chinese government blames the violence on Islamist militants and separatists.

But rights groups say the unrest is more a reaction to repressive policies, and argue that the new measures may end up pushing some Uighurs into extremism.

Malaysia detains 8 suspects for questioning about Thai blast

National deputy police chief Noor Rashid Ibrahim said they were detained in the past week in Kuala Lumpur as well as in northeastern Kelantan state.

Uighurs are an ethnic minority in China and complain of oppression by the government. Some Uighurs (pronounced WEE-gurs) have been involved in a separatist movement in the Chinese region of Xinjiang where most of them live.