Amendments to the Criminal Law announced by China's highest court Nov. 1 included preparing an attack, inciting terrorism, using extremism to break the law, carrying goods for terrorism purposes and wearing clothing or logos linked to religious extremism. The state-run Global Times explained that "Anyone who violently forces others to wear such garments will be put under surveillance, detained or face a maximum of three years in prison". A separate joint statement issued by the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Supreme People's Court did not define what constitutes extremist garments or symbols.

On November 2, 2015, the official news agency Xinhua announced that the former Editor-in-Chief of Xinjiang Daily, Zhao Xinwei, was fired and expelled from the Communist Party for "improperly discussing" government policy on Xinjiang.  Zhao Xinwei, is now being investigated for violations of political discipline, including, in part, "misrepresenting Central and XUAR Party Committee important work policies, strategic decisions...". It Is unclear whether the charges relate specifically to the new legal amendments.

(Comments: Earlier in January 2015, Xinjiang authorities had issued a ban on burqas and urged residents to inform on women wearing burqas and young men with "large beards." T-shirts and flags featuring the Islamic crescent — also the symbol of the pro-independence East Turkestan flag — are also banned.)